Science Confirms A Logical Conclusion

While most people are either unaware or actively ignoring the fact, alcohol actually is a depressant. That means that it can cause someone to momentarily experience a depressive episode, though it usually doesn't last very long, and isn't the kind of thing that most people would notice. After all, the common perception that drunk people just tend to be moodier than normal can easily make depressive moments seem ordinary. However, for those who are aware of the fact, then it is a logical conclusion that drinking alcohol might cause depression. Or at least increase the risk of it. However, there has never been any scientific data backing that up, until now.

A recent study found that the excessive intake of alcohol can increase a person's risk of depression. The results found that at all ages where drinking was legal, the signs were clear. The statistics reflected a significant trend between alcohol abuse and the risk of contracting major depression. According to the data, about 19.4% of participants between the ages of 17 and 18 were abusing or dependent on alcohol, which is a significant number. Even more significant is that 18.2% of that age range were diagnosed with depression and abusing alcohol. The estimated increase in risk was 1.9%.

The researchers also started digging into the possibility of a genetic link between these factors, along with other details they may have missed. These include the use of substances such as cannabis, affiliation with peers that may be influencing such behavior, unemployment, and other factors known to contribute to depression. There is evidence indicating that the link may emerge from a number of genetic processes that are triggered by alcohol use. It is possible that alcohol, in high enough amounts, can cause inactive genetic factors related to a higher risk of depression to activate.