While there is casual alcohol consumption during a social event, there is also social drinking that goes overboard. For some people, this could mean the beginning of drinking problems that may lead to full-blown alcoholism. Alcohol addiction can be overcome with help from a comprehensive, professional treatment program consisting of a variety of scientifically validated supports and interventions. Run by caring and experienced staff, these programs offer effective, specialized services aimed at combating alcohol addiction. Many theories of the causes of alcoholism rest on the limited perspectives of specialists in particular disciplines or professions.

Combined with medications and behavioral treatment provided by health care professionals, mutual-support groups can offer a valuable added layer of support. Roughly 43% of Americans have been exposed to alcoholism in the family. An estimated one-third of alcohol abusers report experiencing a mental illness. Excessive alcohol consumption costs the United States more than $220 billion each year which combines lost productivity, health care costs, criminal justice costs and other effects. However, about 18 million adult Americans have an alcohol use disorder (AUD). Alcohol use disorder is considered a progressive disease, meaning that the effects of drinking alcohol become increasingly more severe over time.

Treatment of Alcoholism

If you feel that you sometimes drink too much alcohol, or your drinking is causing problems, or if your family is concerned about your drinking, talk with your health care provider. Other ways to get help include talking with a mental health professional or seeking help from a support group such as Alcoholics Anonymous or a similar type of self-help group. Chronic alcohol abusers and alcohol dependents can choose to attend an inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation center to recover completely from the disease. Alcohol rehab centers provide unique programs for each patient to be able to address the patient’s individual needs.

It’s a disease of brain function and requires medical and psychological treatments to control it. Alcoholism is a disease that cuts across race, nationality, and gender. In the United States alone, adults aged 18 to 29 have the highest percentage of alcohol problems.

Social and Psychological Causes of Alcoholism

A person struggling with alcohol abuse is not at this level of impairment, though the chances of developing a dependence on alcohol are high being that alcohol abuse is considered a precursor to alcoholism. An informed minority opinion, especially among sociologists, believes that the medicalization of alcoholism is an error. Unlike most disease symptoms, the loss of control over drinking does not hold true at all times or in all situations. The alcoholic is not always under internal pressure to drink and can sometimes resist the impulse to drink or can drink in a controlled way.

Poorer individuals experience greater health and social harms from alcohol consumption than more affluent individuals. Depression is another psychological disorder being studied as one of the causes of alcoholism. This is obvious among alcoholics who demonstrate various mood swings when drunk. Some alcohol dependents and alcohol abusers are also more affected by acute withdrawal symptoms, which can then lead to anxiety and depression. The interaction of alcohol and affective disorders may be linked genetically or may exist as a result of the other.

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For example, individuals who are more likely to pursue or disregard risk are more likely to engage in heavy drinking; those who are less inhibited may drink more. Much like genetics, personality factors are incredibly complex and interact with each other. The expectations an individual has about drinking also play a big role. Individuals who have positive expectations about alcohol’s impacts are https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/the-6-stages-of-alcoholic-recovery-timeline/ more likely to develop alcoholism than individuals who have negative expectations about alcohol’s effects. Individual factors include age, gender, family circumstances and socio-economic status. Although there is no single risk factor that is dominant, the more vulnerabilities a person has, the more likely the person is to develop alcohol-related problems as a result of alcohol consumption.

• Women who have alcohol-use disorders often have a co-occurring psychiatric diagnosis such as major depression, anxiety, panic disorder, bulimia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or borderline personality disorder.
• We’ll help you figure out what caused your alcoholism and get you back on track to a healthier life.
• Some of the most commonly studied examples include Islam, Mormonism, Evangelical Protestantism, and Orthodox Judaism.
• If you or someone you know is experiencing two or more of the above symptoms, it may signify the presence of alcoholism.
• Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.

In a study by The Recovery Village polling over two thousand respondents, coping with mental health symptoms, coping with stress and recreation ranked 1st, 2nd and 3rd as the biggest reasons people drink alcohol. On both a genetic and environmental level, family history can contribute to alcoholism. Research has shown that the two genes ADH1B and ALDH2, which control alcohol metabolism, are key factors in developing alcoholism along with several others.

Warning signs

About half of people with a mental health condition will also have a substance use disorder in their lifetime. Among adolescents with serious mental health conditions, more than 60% also use substances and can have a substance use disorder like alcoholism. The psychological factors of alcoholism refer to the psychological characteristics of an individual that drive them to seek satisfaction through alcohol.

• Since alcohol is so prevalent in our society, people often take it for granted and assume it isn’t as dangerous as other substances.
• Alcoholism, excessive and repetitive drinking of alcoholic beverages to the extent that the drinker repeatedly is harmed or harms others.
• Binge drinking is drinking so much at once that your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level is 0.08% or more.
• Much like genetics, personality factors are incredibly complex and interact with each other.

Even after formal treatment ends, many people seek additional support through continued involvement in such groups. There is also a high risk of overdose when combining alcohol with prescription drugs. Reach out to a treatment provider for free today for immediate assistance. Alcoholism is a disease that does not discriminate and can impact anyone – regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, body type or personal beliefs.

Behavioral treatments—also known as alcohol counseling, or talk therapy, and provided by licensed therapists—are aimed at changing drinking behavior. Examples of behavioral treatments are brief interventions and reinforcement approaches, treatments that build motivation and teach skills for coping and preventing a return to drinking, and mindfulness-based therapies. A health care provider might ask the following questions to assess a person’s symptoms.

• Because denial is common, you may feel like you don’t have a problem with drinking.
• They might feel that turning to alcohol is easier since they fear others may judge them for their mental illness.
• It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.
• The sooner you recognize there may be a problem and talk to your healthcare provider, the better your recovery chances.

Spouses and children of heavy drinkers may face family violence; children may suffer physical and sexual abuse and neglect and develop psychological problems. Women who drink during pregnancy run a serious risk of damaging their fetuses. Relatives, friends and strangers can be injured or killed in alcohol-related accidents and assaults. For many people, drinking alcohol is nothing more than a pleasant way to relax.

In fact, there are dozens of risk factors that play a role in the development of an alcohol addiction. These risk factors interact differently in every individual, leading to alcohol use disorders in some and not in others. Several other factors can also increase the risk of developing an alcohol addiction.

For some, alcohol gives off feelings of pleasure, encouraging the brain to repeat the behavior. Repetitive behavior like this can make you more vulnerable to developing alcoholism. It may lead to liver diseases, such as fatty liver disease and cirrhosis. Alcohol also increases the risk of death from car crashes, injuries, homicide, and suicide. Excessive drinking includes binge drinking, heavy drinking, and any drinking by pregnant women or people younger than age 21. The diagnosis is made when drinking interferes with your life or affects your health.