Causes of Alcoholism: Exploring Causes of Alcohol Addiction

When individual stop drinking, however, this sends the body into imbalance. It has become so used to alcohol that it temporarily slips into imbalance when sober, and this can cause a variety of withdrawal symptoms. To avoid developing alcoholism, drink responsibly or avoid alcohol entirely. Scientists have suggested that alcohol dependence might be related to approximately 51 genes in different chromosome regions.

• It is for this reason that alcohol detox is conducted with medical supervision.
• Even workers without demanding, hazardous jobs experience work-related alcohol issues.
• Get professional help from an online addiction and mental health counselor from BetterHelp.
• Alcohol dependence can form quickly and aggressively, or it may surface over a longer period of time.

Biological risk factors

This attempt to self-medicate and cope can end up being what causes alcoholism in the end. Don’t be afraid to speak out about your feelings with close friends, family, or professionals. Sometimes living in stressful environments can push a person to drink more than usual. For example, if someone is under a lot of stress at work they are more likely to drink heavily to help not think about work. Careers that are stressful such as nurses and doctors can lead to a higher chance of alcoholism.

Self-Medicating: Drinking to Cope

Alcoholism is characterized by a strong craving for alcohol, an inability to control drinking, and continued consumption despite the negative effects on a person’s life. People with alcohol use disorder often develop a tolerance, requiring more alcohol to achieve the same effects, and experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop drinking. The amount of time it takes to become addicted to alcohol depends on unique factors, such as a person’s genetic makeup and how much alcohol they consume. Some research suggests that those who begin drinking in their teen years and have a family history of alcohol addiction are more likely to develop problems with drinking. Those who drink large amounts of alcohol are likely to become addicted more quickly, as binge drinking and heavy drinking are both linked to alcohol addiction.

• That being said, let’s take a look at some of the most common reasons why people get addicted to alcohol.
• They can leave us feeling that we have lost a lot of what is important to us.
• Addiction doesn’t exist in a vacuum – this means problems with drinking will eventually start to impact the social side of things, too.
• 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.
• Though there is no singular cause behind alcohol addiction, many different factors can contribute to its development.

Frequent Alcohol Consumption Over Time

Peer pressure can occur in any age group, especially since alcohol is glorified and widely accepted among many cultures. Stress is one of the factors that many people think of when figuring out what causes alcoholism. High-stress careers like nurses, lawyers, construction workers, and other occupations may lead to excessive drinking. No matter how old a person is when they begin drinking, alcoholism is always in the cards why do people become alcoholics if they avoid the signs. Parents are encouraged to teach their kids about the dangers of heavy drinking early on.

Additionally, exposure to stressful or traumatic events, such as abuse, neglect, or witnessing violence, can contribute to the development of alcoholism as what is alcoholism a coping mechanism. The presence of these adverse experiences can lead to emotional distress, and individuals may turn to alcohol as a way to escape or numb their pain. To ensure that treatment is accessible, Harmony Place takes health insurance from several major providers, including BCBS, Aetna plans, Optum, and Anthem insurance. This extensive coverage helps alleviate financial concerns by making the average cost of alcohol rehab more manageable. By providing clarity on alcohol rehab insurance coverage and options for paying for alcohol recovery treatment, we remove barriers to accessing the help needed. Alcoholism (or alcohol use disorder) occurs when a person cannot control their drinking.