What Causes Alcoholism?

Prevalence in Society

It is no secret that alcohol is greatly advertised in modern society. It can be seen on TV, liquor stores are found on every street corner, and overall, its consumption is considered the “norm” in social settings.  

Alcohol is much more socially accepted than marijuana, even though it accounts for an estimated 95,000 deaths a year in the United States. The problem with alcohol is people do not view it like a drug, when in fact it is one. 

It is one that can be very addictive…to certain people. Some people drink alcohol occasionally with no urgency to keep drinking once their blurry, plastered fun is worn off. On the other hand, there are some who grow such an addiction to the liquid that they cannot go a day without it. 

Many believe alcohol addiction forms from just drinking it too often but in reality its comes down to a multitude of factors including genetics, trauma or stress, and environment.

 

 

Genetics

Genetics can greatly affect someone’s desire for alcohol. Research has shown there are specific genes people carry that will enhance their response to a substance. In other words, the gene determines how “good” someone feels due to a drug. 

A study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry represented this correlation. The study used 3,516 twins that were born from 1940 to 1974. Researchers asked a multitude of personal questions to the participants.

Research showed that when one twin was addicted to alcohol the other was much more likely to being addicted. It was found that 48-58 percent of the participants susceptibility to alcohol was due to genetics. This exemplifies the link between someone’s genetic makeup and proneness to alcohol abuse.

 

Trauma or Stress

People who experience stress or trauma are more likely to develop alcohol abuse. This is no surprise considering the relaxation alcohol brings. Trauma/stress from a mental illness, abuse, work, etc. are all things that can lead one to grab the bottle. 

This can be seen specifically with first responders such as police officers, paramedics, firefighters and military personnel. All these professions increase the chances of developing a stress-related disorder such as PTSD. 

According to Alcohol.org there have been certain studies conducted that lead researchers to estimate the rate of PTSD amongst first- responders may be between 15% and 30%. They also estimate that 20% of those first responders develop a substance abuse disorder. 

This correlation is startling considering there are a significant amount of first-responders around the world, many of whom may be suffering.

 

Environment

     One’s environment plays a huge part in the development of their alcohol abuse. A child can learn to drink due to growing up with parents who drank alcohol around them. They also could learn the behavior because of a lack of parental supervision, which leads them to discover alcohol on their own. Or their alcohol abuse could be because of both factors they had experienced growing up.

     A person’s early years of childhood are very crucial to their development and they learn the most from their family and people that surround them. This can seriously hinder a child if they grew up around the wrong people. 

    According to academic journal published by Enoch Ma, a member of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, environmental factors play a big role in the development of alcoholism. Ma states, "Parental mental health and family interaction strongly influence the child's own mental health."

    Thus, if a child grows up without a strong foundation, they pose a higher risk to developing a substance abuse disorder due to their mental health.

    However, environmental factors aren't secluded to just family. The friends a child decides to hang around with can greatly dictate their troubles. A child could begin to drink due to peer pressure or they do it because it is available to them. 

    Regardless of the reason, the earlier they drink the more susceptible they are to becoming alcohol dependent. The term, “monkey see, monkey do”, perfectly represents the environmental factors that can cause one’s addiction.

 

 Conclusion

    Alcohol abuse is among the leading causes of death around the world and it is not taken as seriously as it should. It is an illness that may be apparent in certain individuals but in some it is hidden. This makes it all the more dangerous because you may not know someone needs help. 

    Alcohol takes a drastic toll on the body over an extended period of time. That is why it is important that if you or a loved one suffer from this disease that you seek help immediately.

 It is not too late to get your life back.