Alcoholics may find it difficult to quit drinking because detoxification from alcohol damages the areas of the brain that veto spontaneous desire - such as the desire to drink.
A study from the University of Sussex, found that alcoholic patients have reduced nerve cells in the prefrontal cortex, which controls desire.
The problem is exacerbated by repeated alcohol detoxifications, each of which causes further damage, making it more difficult to remain dry.
Read more at University of Sussex