Alcohol Use Disorder Causes: Why Do People Become Alcoholics?

Without close parental supervision and intervention, if necessary, these habits can lead to developing alcoholism later in the young person’s life. Likewise, there is no single identified cause that leads to the development of alcoholism. Risk factors are conditions or experiences that can increase the chance or probability that an individual will develop a specific disease or disorder. Simply having a risk factor does not ensure that a person will develop the condition.

Exposure to Chronic Stress

Neuroticism is also linked to a diminished quality of life, another factor that could increase the allure of substance use. Many different theories of addiction exist because they weight the role of contributing factors differently. Some current models of addiction emphasize https://ecosoberhouse.com/ the causative role of individual variations in biology or genes that make a substance or experience feel more or less pleasurable. Physiologically, alcohol alters the balance of chemicals in the brain. It affects chemicals in the brain’s reward center, such as dopamine.

Warning Signs of an Alcoholic

Alcohol use disorder is a problematic pattern of alcohol use that leads to distress in one’s daily life, according to the DSM-5. Experiencing at least two symptoms throughout the course of a year merits a diagnosis, from mild to moderate to severe. Research has shown that individuals who begin drinking alcohol at a young age are more likely to develop alcohol use disorders as adults than those who delay alcohol consumption until later in life.

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A person severely dependent on alcohol will usually experience severe withdrawal symptoms. Because of the severity of the disease, medically monitored alcohol detox is a necessity. Between 3 and 5 percent of people withdrawing from alcohol develop grand mal seizures and severe confusion, known as delirium tremens.

• Alcoholics Anonymous is a decades-old treatment, but one that research shows is effective.
• Individuals with a family history of alcoholism are more likely to develop AUD themselves compared to those without such a history.
• Genetics plays a significant role in the risk of developing alcohol addiction, though it is not the sole factor.
• Illicit drug use short-circuits that process and directly boosts dopamine levels.

Chronic Stress

• For more information on alcoholism, including treatment resources, check out the links on the next page.
• In the short term, alcohol can cause blackouts — short-term memory lapses in which people forget what occurred over entire stretches of time.
• Research has shown that individuals who begin drinking alcohol at a young age are more likely to develop alcohol use disorders as adults than those who delay alcohol consumption until later in life.
• This is especially true for teens who attend parties where drinking is the primary activity.

This eventually has negative impacts on brain chemistry leading to addiction. The chemical changes from long term alcohol abuse result in a person developing both physical and psychological dependence. As a result, virtually anyone can become an alcoholic if they continue to abuse it over long periods of time. Stress, untreated mental health conditions, trauma, or a toxic environment are all things that might trigger a relapse. That’s why it’s so important to find a comprehensive alcohol treatment program that can take a multifaceted approach to addiction treatment. Chronic alcohol abuse can weaken the immune system, disrupt hormonal balance, and damage vital organs, resulting in long-term health complications and reduced life expectancy.

There are no laboratory tests, brain scans, or blood tests that can diagnose alcoholism. In 2021, 11.3% of people aged 18 years and above were found to have Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), according to case study data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Furthermore, during the same period, approximately 894,000 individuals between the ages of 12 and 17 (equivalent to 3.4% of this age why do people become alcoholics group) were categorized as alcoholics or alcohol-dependent. Drunk driving, drinking before or while at work, or drinking against doctor’s orders are clear indications of alcoholism. These kinds of reckless behaviors indicate that alcohol has taken top priority and almost always has serious consequences. End-stage alcoholics are also at a high risk of dying from accidents, trauma and suicide.

Healing from shame can help families cope with an addicted loved one. The idea that altered forms of consciousness such as mania or alcohol can enhance creativity is a popular belief. Researchers found that participants who had a few drinks were better and faster at creative problem solving than their sober counterparts. The reason may be that alcohol tamps down working memory and therefore sparks people to think outside the box. It can have serious effects on the heart, kidneys, lungs, and pancreas and can cause high blood pressure. Understanding certain terminologies related to alcohol use will help facilitate a better understanding of the disorder.