The Reasons behind Alcoholism
Substance use disorders are the major public health issues facing the United States today. It is estimated that more than 15 million Americans suffer from alcoholism. Several factors mitigate the onset of excessive alcohol use in people. These include genetics, general risk factors, gender, family links and people with emotional and behavioral disorders.
Genetics:
It has been discovered that there is one gene called DRD2 that causes humans to a predisposition toward alcoholism. The presence of this gene does not cause alcoholism itself but it does make the person feel the effects of alcohol more intensely which in turn can lead to the excessive use of alcohol. By itself, this gene is not a predictor of alcoholism but is thought to account for half of the total risk for alcoholism.
General Risk Factors:
Other factors behind the excessive use of alcoholism include drinking in adolescence as well as drinking in the elderly. Although it is more common for young people to drink in excess, the elderly are not exempt and because of the serious life changes that can come about in the elderly they can be at an extreme risk.
Gender is another factor. Most alcoholics are men however; the incidence of alcoholism in women is increasing in recent years.
People with emotional and behavioral disorders are more susceptible to the abuse of alcohol as are people in low-income situations. It has also been found that people who live in urban areas are more likely to drink in excess leading to alcoholism than people who live in non-urban areas.
Sugar Cravings:
Studies have shown that people who crave sugar have a higher tendency to drink alcohol in excess. It has not been proven yet whether sugar cravings can be used as an indicator for alcoholism or if people with alcohol addiction satisfy their cravings with sweet alcohol rather than sweet foods.
Family Links:
People who come from families of alcoholics have more of a tendency to begin drinking alcohol at a younger age and eventually become alcoholics in the same manner as their alcoholic family members. This risk for alcoholism in sons of alcoholic fathers is more than 25% but the familial link seems to be weaker for women. People with a family history of alcoholism are also more likely to begin drinking at earlier ages, which increases their risk factors toward abuse.
Alcoholic beverages have been in existence for some say 15,000 years. Drinking steadily and consistently over time can cause a physical dependence on alcohol as well as withdrawal symptoms when going without alcohol for very long. Physical dependence will not lead to alcoholism by itself. There must first be issues involved that cause the person to abuse alcohol and to abuse alcohol in an effort to deal with painful emotions and/or experiences. Many factors lead to alcoholism and alcohol abuse. These things are important to recognize when the alcoholic goes through recovery and quits abusing alcohol. Any factors that can be removed or solved need to be addressed as part of the alcoholism treatment.
Alcoholism in the News
07/30/2010
CATCH Kids Club gets grant, expands program
The focus of the Central Nebraska Council on Alcoholism and Addiction's grant celebration this morning was on healthy eating and exercise, but Donato Medina quickly became the center of attention.
CATCH Kids Club gets grant, expands program
07/22/2010
Alcoholism compromises safety, productivity
ALCOHOLISM is a disease that affects more than just the alcoholic. Friends, family and co-workers often pay the price for the alcoholics behaviour. For employers, this price tag is more than just an emotional one.
Alcoholism compromises safety, productivity
07/30/2010
On the Media: Veteran journalist Eric Malnic was the ultimate newsman
In his five decades with the Los Angeles Times, the late Malnic served as dogged reporter, master rewriter and finally, a beacon of what good journalism is all about. The excited young reporter called in from the airplane crash site, sure he had captured the essence of the tragedy. He couldn't wait to read the series of graphs he had lovingly crafted about the scene.
On the Media: Veteran journalist Eric Malnic was the ultimate newsman
07/30/2010
A bishops trials and triumphs
A bishops trials and triumphs By Kristen Moulton The Salt Lake Tribune Updated Jul 30, 2010 06:26PM MDT In the bleakest hours of her 14-year tenure as Episcopal bishop of Utah, the Rt. Rev. Carolyn Tanner Irish was tempted to resign. All around the diocese, priests and lay people felt neglected and angry with what they saw as betrayal Irishs secret slip into alcoholism just three years into ...
A bishops trials and triumphs
07/28/2010
Social isolation as bad as alcoholism: study
Enjoying good "social connections" with friends, family, colleagues and neighbours can improve an individual's chances of survival by 50 per cent, a study has found.
Social isolation as bad as alcoholism: study
07/28/2010
Social isolation as bad as alcoholism: study
Enjoying good "social connections" with friends, family, colleagues and neighbours can improve an individual's chances of survival by 50 per cent, a study has found.
Social isolation as bad as alcoholism: study
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