Alcohol has been the center of many wars, revolutions, parties, religious ceremonies, bad decisions, and countless other affairs. As Homer Simpson once said, “Here’s to alcohol: the cause of, and solution to, all of life’s problems.” But through the centuries alcohol has been abused and used by people to deal with everyday problems that one may face, and through abuse comes dependence and addiction. Dependence on alcohol is known as alcoholism. When someone drinks alcohol, it first enters their stomach, where it is eventually absorbed into the bloodstream and is carried throughout the body. From then on, the alcohol in their system severely affects the brain by decreasing and increasing certain amounts of neurotransmitters used. Alcohol increases the effects of the neurotransmitter GABA, which causes slow movements, impaired eye-hand coordination, and slurred speech. Alcohol also decreases the effects of the neurotransmitter glutamate, which is important for learning and communication between the transmitters. When someone takes a drink, a large amount of dopamine is also released in the brain’s reward center, giving the user feelings of pleasure and euphoria. A continuous gain and loss of dopamine can cause a physical dependence on the chemical, causing the user to need more and more alcohol to maintain a constant state of brief satisfaction. Though abuse and dependence are commonly confused, they are certainly two different things. Some people are able to enjoy one beer or a glass of wine with no impulse to take another gulp. Others, however, have urges and needs to grab another bottle or pour another glass due to the fact that