Causes of Addiction

Above, we mentioned how science tells us that alcoholism is indeed a medical condition. However, a person who has not yet developed a biological dependence on alcohol may still choose to drink maladaptively despite being aware of warning signs or personal risk factors. Some who do not have genetic risk factors may develop alcoholism if raised in an environment that encourages or normalizes maladaptive drinking behaviors. In the beginning stages of alcoholism, drinking escalates and the individual develops an increased tolerance for alcohol. Those biological changes pave the way for the second stage, which is marked by a physical dependence on the drug.

• Unhealthy alcohol use includes any alcohol use that puts your health or safety at risk or causes other alcohol-related problems.
• People often use the term “alcoholic” or “alcoholism” to refer to someone who is addicted to alcohol.
• As a result, virtually anyone can become an alcoholic if they continue to abuse it over long periods of time.
• Additionally, the person receiving treatment can also address their unhealthy drinking behaviors and learn to adapt to triggering situations with more productive coping skills.
• The progression into a full addiction is usually gradual and withdrawal from alcohol can produce physical symptoms.

Alcohol use disorder

Moderate drinking is the only safe way to consume alcohol, but drinking in general isn’t safe for everyone. Drinkers leave the experimental stage when their alcohol consumption becomes more frequent. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ Instead of just drinking at parties once in a while, you may find yourself drinking every weekend. Drinking large amounts of alcohol at one time is dangerous, and can even lead to coma or death.

What are the symptoms of alcoholism?

Whether at home, at work, or in any other environment that causes stress, some people will have a drink to unwind and relax. A drink can help some relax and calm down at the end of a chaotic day. However, for those who develop an alcohol use disorder, this becomes a coping mechanism and turns into a maladaptive, repeating pattern. The number of drinks and the frequency of drinking steadily increase. Despite efforts to hide their addiction, their drinking problem is quite obvious to others.

What Increases the Risk for Alcohol Use Disorder?

Chronic drinkers are more liable to contract diseases like pneumonia and tuberculosis than moderate drinkers. Drinking a lot on a single occasion slows your body’s ability to ward off infections–even up to 24 hours after getting drunk. Once stabilized, the goal is to transition from detox, to treatment, to maintenance (practicing sober living by changing your life), to transcendence—the final step in the path to recovery.

Signs of an Alcoholic

Several other factors can also increase the risk of developing an alcohol addiction. These factors can be harmful on their own, but when they occur simultaneously, why do people become alcoholics they can easily contribute to an alcohol use disorder. Gender can also play a role in whether a person develops an alcohol use disorder.

And as tolerance builds, they’ll begin to drink more and more to achieve the same buzz or high they’re used to. The early or adaptive stage of alcoholism marks the beginning of an alcoholic’s struggle with addiction. At this point, drinking is no longer just a casual social activity — it’s become a daily habit that may be used to cope with stress, anxiety or other emotional problems.

• Healthcare providers define AUD as a brain disorder that affects your ability to regulate or stop drinking alcohol despite adverse impacts on your mental and physical health and professional or personal life.
• They may know that their alcohol use negatively affects their lives, but it’s often not enough to make them stop drinking.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy is another path, available in person or online.
• Often, drinking begins as a negative coping method to decrease the discomfort linked to the trauma experience.

• Similarly, people with anxiety, panic disorders, bipolar disorder, and PTSD are all at a higher risk of developing a drinking problem.
• Genes may be an important factor triggering the development of alcoholism.
• Instead of relying on alcohol to numb their pain, they can instead act to replace those pain points in their lives with better decisions.
• In some people, the initial reaction may feel like an increase in energy.
• Around 14.1 million adults and 414,000 adolescents in the United States had an alcohol use disorder in 2019.
• Their craving for risk and novelty takes the fear out of drug use and the huge dopamine boost powerfully reinforces the motivation to seek the reward over and over again.

With consistent drinking, the chemical output decreases, so a person drinks more to achieve the same results. Research has shown that people with a family history of alcoholism face an increased risk of developing alcoholism themselves. Although having a genetic predisposition to alcoholism does not guarantee that someone will develop an addiction, it may contribute to their susceptibility. If you or a loved one is struggling with AUD, make an appointment with a primary care provider such as a medical doctor or nurse practitioner. People with severe AUD who have used alcohol long-term may experience severe withdrawal symptoms that require medical evaluation and treatment.

Long-Term Health Problems Associated with Chronic Heavy Drinking