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There are many reasons why people drink, and why some become addicted to alcohol while others do not. Interesting enough, however, new research that surfaced in 2014 proved that there was an additional risk factor behind the eventual development of alcoholism – the inability to learn from past mistakes. Spouses and children of heavy drinkers may face family violence; children why do people become alcholics 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. No matter how many risk factors are present in an alcoholic’s life, treatment is still possible.
Now scientists are one step closer to understanding why some people can drink in moderation while others crave alcohol so much that they become alcoholic. It’s evident when someone is at the end-stages of their alcohol addiction. They see severe impacts on their health, relationships, employment, finances, and overall satisfaction with life.
Environmental Factors
This can contribute to the hypothesis that alcohol is more addicting for some individuals than others. Moreover, binge drinking also releases “negative chemicals”, such as cortisol. The new findings may hold the key to more focused treatments for people who abuse alcohol and drugs. Now that scientists understand the specific areas of the brain that are affected by alcohol, treatments may be able to target those areas. That’s why we think drug treatment could be effective – if we can block that high, eventually they’ll learn that drink isn’t worth it anymore,” said Mitchell. Help is available for you no matter which stage of alcoholism you’ve reached.
Knowledge surrounding the causes of alcoholism was still scarce until the mid-1900s. Additionally, no two individuals have identical reasons that lead them to develop alcohol use disorder. Despite the variation in specific causes and timeframes from person to person, the disease itself follows a pattern. ” Environmental factors include the acceptance of alcoholism in the media, the advertising and marketing of alcohol, social influences, and the availability of alcohol. There are dozens of risk factors and causes, any of which can impact a specific individual.
Possible risk factors
Heavy drinking can cause physiological changes that make more drinking the only way to avoid discomfort. Individuals with alcohol dependence may drink partly to reduce or avoid withdrawal symptoms. The more highly educated an individual is, the more likely they are to consume alcohol. In the United States, 80% of college graduates drink; only 52% of individuals with no college drink.
- During these times, you’re looking to make new friends and develop relationships with peers.
- People suffering from PTSD are far more likely to develop alcoholism.
- For example, alcohol causes increased release of “pleasure chemicals” in the brain, such as serotonin and dopamine.
- If you’re in this phase, you’ll often downplay the amount you drink and find ways of explaining away the behavior.
- Each test subject was given an alcohol drink and PET imaging was used to map the effects of the alcohol on test subjects’ brains.
Addiction can also send your emotional danger-sensing circuits into overdrive, making you feel anxious and stressed when you’re not using the drugs or alcohol. At this stage, people often use drugs or alcohol to keep from feeling bad rather than for their pleasurable effects. This blog is for informational purposes only and should not be a substitute for medical advice. We understand that everyone’s situation is unique, and this content is to provide an overall understanding of substance use disorders.
Family History
But even for those who’ve successfully quit, there’s always a risk of the addiction returning, which is called relapse. Drinking in an effort to reduce stress can quickly turn problematic. Career paths that are more likely to face high levels of stress due to long hours and strenuous tasks include doctors, nurses, emergency rescue workers, construction workers and military.
- Research has shown that the two genes ADH1B and ALDH2, which control alcohol metabolism, are key factors in developing alcoholism along with several others.
- An estimated 22 million Americans— are in recovery from addictions such as alcohol use disorder.
- However, even a mild disorder can escalate and lead to serious problems, so early treatment is important.
- You might notice it if they use it as their go-to way to unwind after a challenging day or long week.