Sobering Up

Brendan Koerner profiles AA:

As dependence grows, alcoholics also lose the ability to properlyregulate their behavior. This regulation is the responsibility of theprefrontal cortex, which is charged with keeping the rest of the brainapprised of the consequences of harmful actions. But mind-alteringsubstances slowly rob the cortex of so-called synaptic plasticity,which makes it harder for neurons to communicate with one another. Whenthis happens, alcoholics become less likely to stop drinking...