Stressful life events, such as job loss, relationship breakdowns, or childhood trauma, can lead to alcohol addiction. Economic inequality, workplace stress, and social isolation have all been linked to increased alcohol consumption in the United Kingdom. A person’s friend group is another environmental factor that can influence alcoholism.

Alcoholism Causes And Risk Factors

Our aim is to help individuals regain control of their lives through evidence-based treatments, support, and care. While there is no universal indicating factor to one’s risk level, there are some factors that have historically been known to contribute to developing the disorder. Specific forms of trauma, such as childhood physical abuse, have also been shown to increase the likelihood of developing alcohol problems in adulthood. For example, depression can lead individuals to drink to escape feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and anxiety might drive people to use alcohol to calm their nerves or reduce their worries. The research that exists strongly indicates that genetics play a significant role in the development of alcoholism. Because alcoholism is such a complex disease, the journey to recovery can be long and filled with ups and downs.

Trauma can also leave deep scars that increase the likelihood of addiction. When faced with difficult experiences like abuse, neglect, or loss, some turn to alcohol as a way to cope with pain. Perhaps you grew up in a household where alcohol was consistently present at celebrations or used as a way to unwind after a long day. These early experiences can shape our beliefs and attitudes about alcohol, setting the stage for potential problems later in life.

Individuals with a family history of AUD, mental health conditions, or past trauma are more susceptible to developing the disorder. Additionally, social and cultural pressures, peer influence, and easy access to alcohol can contribute to the onset of AUD. The environment in which a person is raised or currently lives can strongly influence drinking habits. Stressful life situations such as poverty, trauma, or exposure to violence can also lead to excessive drinking as a coping mechanism. Starting to drink alcohol at a young age significantly raises the risk of developing alcohol use disorder (AUD) later in life. Research indicates that individuals who begin drinking before the age Twelve-step program of 15 are three times more likely to experience alcohol-related problems compared to those who start drinking at 21 or later.

Why Do Some People Develop a Face Rash While Detoxing From Alcohol?

However, excessive alcohol consumption can worsen existing mental health issues or even trigger new ones. 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.

Make A Decision That Will Change Your Life

Alcohol affects brain chemistry, and over time, repeated exposure can alter brain function, reinforcing addiction cycles. Understanding the psychological factors contributing to alcoholism is essential for effective treatment and recovery. Stressful life events have also been linked to someone developing an alcohol addiction. Examples might include going through a bereavement, losing your job, experiencing a traumatic event or struggling with financial problems. The stress and trauma that surround these types of events may lead you to try to self-medicate with alcohol, which can lead you to develop a harmful addiction.

In a study of 166 adolescents the biggest predictor in substance use was a friend’s substance using behaviors. Having friends who drink alcohol provides a model for drinking behavior and can even lead to peer pressure. People who have experienced physical, emotional or sexual abuse or other forms of trauma are at higher risk for alcoholism. Often, drinking begins as a negative coping method to decrease the discomfort linked to the trauma experience. Several other factors can also increase the risk of developing an alcohol addiction.

But as you continue to drink, you become drowsy and have less control over your actions. Alcohol use disorder can include periods of being drunk (alcohol intoxication) and symptoms of withdrawal. Medications like naltrexone or acamprosate can help reduce cravings and manage withdrawal symptoms. Heavy alcohol use raises the risk for fractures and even low levels of alcohol intake increase the odds for recurrent gout attacks.

Symptoms of alcohol abuse disorder are based on the consequences that occur as a result of excessive drinking. For another, they may inherit whatever genetic or biological vulnerabilities laid the groundwork for a parental addiction. Prolonged stress during childhood dysregulates the normal stress response and, through overproduction of cortisol, is especially harmful to the brain’s hippocampus, impairing memory and https://metechtoancau.com/alcohol-and-diabetes-can-alcohol-cause-diabetes/ learning. Severe or sustained early life adversity shifts the course of brain development and can lastingly impair emotion regulation and cognitive development. What is more, it can sensitize the stress response system so that it overresponds to minimal levels of threat, making people feel easily overwhelmed by life’s normal difficulties.

Common Causes of Alcoholism

They also undergo medical detox, including medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Alcohol withdrawal can occur when alcohol use has been heavy and prolonged but why do people become alcoholics suddenly stopped or significantly reduced. AUD typically involves alternating periods of alcohol intoxication and withdrawal symptoms.

• You might prioritize drinking over everything else, struggle with guilt or shame, and feel unable to function without alcohol.
• There are many risk factors for addiction, from individual factors such as stress tolerance and personality makeup to social factors such as friendships and educational and job opportunities.
• Alcohol’s effect on neurotransmitters creates a feeling of pleasure, which can lead to a craving for more, increasing the risk of developing dependence.
• The strain on relationships is another significant consequence of alcoholism.
• The community or society that you grow up in and their attitude towards alcohol will influence how you perceive alcohol abuse and addiction.

Experiencing abuse and/or neglect in childhood

Based on these findings, the causes of alcoholism can lie in mental and emotional health. A person who is overly stressed, anxious or depressed may begin using alcohol to cope but eventually develop an alcohol addiction. Treatment for alcohol use disorder usually involves support and medical care to help you reduce your intake of alcohol or stop drinking altogether. If you would like to reduce your alcohol use but aren’t sure where to get started, it’s best to talk with a healthcare professional.