Why Do People Feel Relieved After Using Alcohol and Cannabis?

People often use alcohol and cannabis to feel better. But why do they feel this way? A study looked into this. It found that people feel relieved after using these substances. But it's not just about mood changes. It's more about what they expect and the pleasure they get.

The Study

The study involved 87 adults. They used both alcohol and cannabis at least twice a week. They filled out surveys for 14 days. The surveys asked about their mood, cravings, and how much relief they felt after using these substances.

Key Findings

The results showed that pleasure from using alcohol and cannabis was a big factor. It predicted how much relief they felt. Morning expectations also played a role. If they expected relief, they were more likely to feel it. But changes in mood and cravings didn't really matter.

Implications

This is interesting. It suggests that people might use these substances for pleasure. Not just to escape bad feelings. Future studies should look deeper into this. They should figure out how pleasure and relief are connected.

This study adds to what we know about addiction. It shows that people's expectations and experiences matter. They influence how they feel after using substances. This is important for understanding addiction. And it could help in creating better treatments.