Causes of alcoholism in men and women

By and large, the key cause of alcoholism is the intake of alcohol. If a person does not drink alcohol, even in the presence of all risk factors and poor heredity, he will not develop this disease. However, different people perceive alcohol differently: some develop addictions, while others do not experience any changes for a long time.

Alcoholism is a mental illness, a form of addiction that can affect anyone. The problem develops regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, body type, or personal beliefs.

There is no single cause of alcoholism as an emerging addiction to alcohol. In fact, there are dozens of risk factors that play a role in the development of alcohol dependence. These factors interact differently for each person, leading to alcohol use disorders in some people and non-attachment in others.

Both internal and external factors contribute to the development of alcoholism in men and women. Internal factors include genetics (characteristics of gene mutations), psychological conditions, personality, personal choice, and a history of drinking.

External factors include family, environment, religion, social and cultural norms, age, education and work, social status. The myriad of factors that can influence the development of alcohol dependence make it almost impossible to accurately predict whether a person will develop alcoholism. Although it is a personal choice to start drinking or not, many studies show that the development of alcoholism after the start of drinking is, to varying degrees, beyond the control of each person.

It is also true that no single factor, or group of factors, determines whether someone will become an alcoholic.

Psychological factors

Certain psychological conditions strongly influence the likelihood of developing alcoholism. For example, people with depression, bipolar disorder, and social anxiety are much more likely to develop alcoholism. More than 40% of those with bipolar disorder abuse or suffer from alcoholism, and approximately 20% of those with depression abuse or depend on alcohol.

Many people with psychological illnesses turn to alcohol as a way to deal with illness. For example, some people with schizophrenia claim that alcohol “calms down” the voices in their heads, and some people with depression claim that alcohol improves their mood. This is especially common in people who have not been diagnosed or who have found that medications cause unpleasant side effects. In addition, many psychological disorders reduce a person’s ability to accept the reality of their drinking or to ignore the risks and warning signs.

Features of personality

Some individuals are more likely to develop alcoholism than others. For example, people who are more likely to underestimate or ignore risk are more likely to abuse alcohol, as are those who are cowardly or inert.

Like genetics, personality factors are incredibly complex and interact with each other. Someone who always wants to be a “party member” may become a heavy drinker in company because they believe they are more “handsome” or relaxed when drunk, and someone with extreme shyness may become a heavy drinker to reduce their discomfort in various social situations.

A person’s expectations regarding alcohol also play a big role. People who have a positive attitude towards the effects of alcohol (they enjoy being drunk) are more likely to develop alcoholism than people who have a negative attitude towards the effects of alcohol.

Personal Choice Factors

When it comes to alcoholism, there are some aspects of personal choice. For example, someone who decides they will never drink will obviously not develop alcoholism. In addition, those who prefer to avoid social situations in which there is a possibility of drinking alcohol are also less likely to develop alcoholism.

However, once a person starts drinking, personal choice has a much smaller impact on whether or not they become an alcoholic compared to other factors.

History of drinking

Periodic drunkenness of a person greatly affects the likelihood of developing alcoholism. People who have been drinking alcohol for a long time are more likely to become alcoholics than those who drink alcohol occasionally. Similarly, people who consumed more alcohol (by volume) were more likely to become alcoholics than people who consumed very little.

Drinking alcohol actually sets the brain up for desire and dependence on ethyl alcohol, and these effects are cumulative (accumulative).

Genetic factors

Many studies have concluded that no single factor influences whether someone becomes an alcoholic as much as that person’s genes. Biological children of alcoholics are significantly more likely to become alcoholics, whether they are raised as alcoholics or as non-drinkers. Similarly, non-biological children of alcoholics raised by alcoholics are less likely to become addicted than biological children raised in a drinking environment.

The genetics of alcoholism is extremely complex and far from being fully understood. Alcoholism is not caused by a single gene, but rather by a large number of genes that interact with each other. At least 51 genes have been identified that influence alcoholism.

Genetics influence many aspects of alcoholism. For example, how easily and quickly alcohol breaks down, how bad a hangover is, how alcohol makes a person feel, how risky a person is, and how likely they are to quit or continue to drink.

Family factors

With the exception of genetics, a person’s family life plays an extremely important role in the likelihood of developing alcoholism. People who grew up in a family where drinking is practiced or even encouraged are more likely to develop alcoholism. In these families, drinking is normalized and embellished, making it socially acceptable, expected, and potentially desirable.

environmental factors

The environment in which a person lives also plays a role in alcoholism. In some countries, buying alcohol is much more difficult and expensive than in others. With less access to liquor, a person is less likely to develop alcoholism. In general, the more alcohol is present in the environment and freely available, the more likely a person is to develop alcoholism.

Family wealth also plays a role. People with higher family affluence are significantly more likely to abuse alcohol and develop alcohol use disorders.

Religious factors

While a person of any religion can become an alcoholic, people who strictly adhere to religions where alcohol is prohibited are less likely to become alcoholics. This is especially true when that religion strongly influences local laws, social customs, and the availability of alcohol.

Some of the most frequently studied examples include Islam, Mormonism, Evangelical Protestantism, and Orthodox Judaism.

Social and cultural factors

Alcoholism is influenced by many social and cultural factors. In general, where alcohol use is tolerated or encouraged, an alcohol-related disorder is more likely to develop. Perhaps the most frequently cited example is the student and youth community, where the use of alcohol, even particularly dangerous forms of drinking such as binge drinking, is widely encouraged and encouraged.

Treatment is also influenced by social and cultural factors. Cultures in which drinking is considered shameful may lead alcoholics to hide their condition and avoid treatment due to the stigma of being an alcoholic.

Subcultures also influence alcoholism. Members of certain subcultures are more likely to abuse alcohol, which in many cases is actively encouraged by other members and seen as a method of acceptance.

age factors

A person’s age greatly affects the likelihood of alcohol abuse. As a rule, alcohol use begins in adolescence to 20 years, peaks at the end of the middle of the third decade of life, slows down by about 30-35 years.

Persons in early and middle age (20 to 40 years) are most likely to abuse alcohol and suffer from alcohol use disorders. However, the earlier a person starts drinking alcohol, the more likely they are to develop alcoholism later in life. This is especially true for people who start drinking before the age of 15.

Career factors

Some professions are more prone to developing alcoholism than others. This is especially true for high stress, high-risk professions or those dominated by young people.

In particular, military personnel are more likely to develop alcohol use disorders. Work usually affects alcohol consumption.

Popular questions and answers

He told us about the causes and consequences of alcoholism neurologist of the highest category Evgeny Mosin.