Who is Prone to Alcoholism? Causes & Risk Factors


Sana Lake Recovery Center is a Joint Commission Accredited addiction treatment program. We offer a safe and trustworthy facility for people struggling with substance abuse. This seal indicates our commitment to continually elevating our standards and providing a superior treatment for substance abuse. There are some negative situations in life that you can’t prevent, like having a dysfunctional family, being emotionally or sexually abused by a family member, or growing up with a relative who had alcoholism.

While the presence of these factors does not guarantee that a person will develop an alcohol use disorder, it’s important to be aware of the circumstances and components that can lead alcoholism in some cases. You can prevent alcohol use disorder by limiting your alcohol intake. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, women shouldn’t drink more than one drink per day, and men shouldn’t drink more than two drinks per day. Too much alcohol affects your speech, muscle coordination and vital centers of your brain. A heavy drinking binge may even cause a life-threatening coma or death.

What are the symptoms of alcohol use disorder?

Certain professions are more likely to develop alcoholism than others. This is especially true of high-stress and/or high-risk professions; it may also be true of professions dominated by younger adults. In particular, military members are more likely to develop alcohol use disorders. Excluding genetics, an individual’s family life plays a significant role in the likelihood that they develop alcoholism. People who grow up in a family where heavy drinking is practiced, or even encouraged, are more likely to develop alcoholism.

Most teens and underage young adults who abuse alcohol engage in binge drinking. Without close parental supervision and intervention, if necessary, these habits can lead to developing alcoholism later in the young person’s life. Some personalities are more likely to develop alcoholism than others. For example, individuals who are more likely to pursue or disregard risk are more likely to engage in heavy drinking; those who are less inhibited may drink more. Much like genetics, personality factors are incredibly complex and interact with each other.

Impact on your health

CADCA, in turn, works with its member coalitions to translate effective strategies for preventing excessive alcohol use into practice at state and local levels. CDC also supports the Center for Advancing Alcohol Science to Practice to provide training and technical assistance to states and communities on effective strategies to reduce excessive drinking. In these cases, a person is often treated with a dual-diagnosis approach. The mental health professional focuses on treating the underlying mental health condition alongside helping the person recover from alcohol addiction. Using one or more of several types of psychological therapies, psychologists can help people address psychological issues involved in their problem drinking.

  • However, a person who has been consuming unhealthy amounts of alcohol for a long time is likely to become sedated when they drink.
  • Cultures where drinking is considered shameful may cause alcoholics to hide their condition and avoid treatment due to the stigma of being labeled an alcoholic.
  • A BAC from 0.25% to 0.40% causes stupor, unconsciousness, anterograde amnesia, vomiting (death may occur due to inhalation of vomit while unconscious) and respiratory depression (potentially life-threatening).
  • A person with this condition does not know when or how to stop drinking.

Treatment providers have years of experience dealing with alcohol addicts from all walks of life with all types of risk factors. Contact a treatment provider to find a rehabilitation facility today. Many individuals with psychological illnesses turn to alcohol as a method of coping with their illness.

Are there other treatments ?

However, even a mild disorder can escalate and lead to serious problems, so early treatment is important. Treatment for alcoholism often involves a combination of therapy, medication, and support. If you think you might have an alcohol use disorder or if you are worried that your alcohol consumption has become problematic, it is important to talk to your doctor to discuss your treatment options.

alcoholism causes

Alcoholism is not caused by a single gene, but rather a large number of genes that interact with one another. People who work long hours and have high-demand careers like doctors, nurses, lawyers and construction workers are more likely to sober house develop alcoholism as they drink to keep stress at bay. Studies show that stressed men are 1.5 more likely to binge drink than women. Those recovering from alcoholism might also find stress to be an emotional trigger and end up relapsing.

What happens to cancer risk after a person stops drinking alcohol?

Scientists don’t know exactly how many people have Korsakoff syndrome. It’s widely considered less common than Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia or dementia with Lewy bodies. Those with cirrhosis often develop kidney problems, intestinal bleeding, fluid in the belly, confusion, liver cancer, and severe infections. The sooner you recognize there may be a problem and talk to your healthcare provider, the better your recovery chances. CDC’s Alcohol-Related Disease Impact application provides state and national estimates of deaths and years of potential life lost from excessive alcohol use. Excessive alcohol use takes a toll on the liver and can lead to fatty liver disease (steatosis), hepatitis, fibrosis, and cirrhosis.

This is especially true when adolescents engage in frequent binge drinking. While drinking early on can increase the likelihood of alcohol abuse, alcoholism can affect anyone at any age. Treatment for alcohol use disorder may include talk therapy (also called “psychotherapy”), support groups, medicines, or a combination of treatments. Alcohol use disorder can be a long-term condition, like high blood pressure or asthma. Korsakoff syndrome is a chronic memory disorder caused by severe deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B-1).


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