Please help. I'm writing a book in which an alcoholic appears. Now I need
to know what exactly happens in the body when a person drinks alcohol.
What is the chemistry of it? Why is it addictive? Because of a similarity
with some other substance the body really needs? Could addiction be
described as a sort of "chemical misunderstanding"? How does addiction
change the metabolism so that the body _needs_ alcohol after a while? Is
there a general theory of addiction?
Maybe you could also point out some resources on the net concerning these
questions. Although, I have tried quite a few and couldn't find anything
to answer my questions. Probably this is something the layperson isn't
really interested in but every doctor has to learn at medical school.
Could you please answer by e-mail?
Martin Auer, Austria
