Summary: One of the latest studies shows that consuming alcohol, even in small amounts, makes people more tolerant of pain, making them less empathetic to others and more aggressive. Thus, aggression associated with alcohol intake is due to reduced pain sensitivity.
Alcohol is a mind-altering substance and is widely consumed in various parts of the world. If consumed responsibly, it is quite safe. However, alcohol addiction is not rare. Thus, for example, studies report that about 29 million adults are living with alcohol use disorder (AUD) in the US.
High alcohol intake is associated with many harms. It damages the liver, kidneys, brain cells, and more. It also causes a deficiency of certain nutrients. It significantly increases malnutrition risk.
A significant area of concern is that alcohol alters the short-term and long-term behavior of those who consume it frequently. Thus, for example, those who are intoxicated are more likely to behave aggressively. Most of those living with AUD show aggressive behavior. Now, one of the latest studies shows that this issue is due to a reduced pain threshold.
It has been long known that alcohol may reduce pain sensation, but what is new in this study are findings that alcohol may have a long-term impact on pain threshold. This reduced pain sensation makes those living with AUD less empathetic, and they are more likely to be insensitive to others and behave aggressively.
Alcohol inhibits brain neurons. So, at higher dosages, it alters sensations, including pain sensations. In the olden days, alcohol was used as an anesthetic. However, it is no longer used as an anesthetic due to a very narrow safety window.
It is vital to realize that most alcohol benefits are at very small dosages. However, at higher dosages, it is mostly harmful. Alcohol overdose is also life-threatening. Alcohol causes both acute and chronic adverse effects. Thus, for example, acute intoxication may alter a person’s ability to make decisions and have a negative impact on motor function. However, in the long run, chronic alcohol consumption may even alter the working of the brain.
Thus, for example, the present study was done on individuals who were not essentially living with AUD. These were people who consumed alcohol casually, drinking 3-4 alcoholic beverages a month. Even these individuals showed changes in the working of their brains.
These were the results of two independent studies with 543 and 327 participants. In both studies, participants were divided into two groups, with one group given an alcoholic drink and another placebo that resembled alcoholic drinks due to their low alcohol content. Then, both groups were exposed to painful stimuli. Researchers found that alcohol-drinking groups were more resilient to pain or less sensitive. Moreover, alcohol also made individuals more aggressive, and they were more ready to tolerate pain.
So, researchers say that this also makes such individuals who drink alcohol insensitive to the pains of others. On the other hand, those who do not consume alcohol can feel greater pain, and they would not like to inflict pain on others.
Here, it is essential to note that those who participated in the study had blood alcohol levels between 0.095% and 0.11%. This is marginally above the legal limit in most states, which is 0.08%. So, this shows that even small amounts of alcohol can suppress pain sensations and make individuals more aggressive.
Thus, it is also logical to conclude that this effect would be even more pronounced in those who drink alcohol heavily and frequently. Therefore, those living with AUD become more aggressive towards others in the long run. For those struggling with alcohol addiction and its consequences, online alcohol addiction treatment offers a promising solution for recovery and long-term health.
Source:
DeWall, C. N., Giancola, P. R., & Bushman, B. J. (2024). Too Insensitive to Care: Alcohol Increases Human Aggression by Increasing Pain Threshold. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, jsad.24-00144. https://doi.org/10.15288/jsad.24-00144
