One of the many causes of alcohol dependence is if they live in stressful enviroments. Some people drink alcohol to relieve their stress. Alcohol is made up of a molecule called ethanol. When ethanol reaches the brain, it stimulates a group of neurons that extends from the mid-brain to the nucleus accumbens. The neurons squirt dopamine which gives the users a pleasurable effect. This makes users want to drink more alcohol to restore the pleasurable feelings. This can lead to alcohol dependence¹.