These practices are highly maladaptive and can progress to alcoholism the more a person forms an emotional dependence. Above, we mentioned how science tells us that alcoholism is indeed a medical https://www.excel-medical.com/5-tips-to-consider-when-choosing-a-sober-living-house/ 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.

Relatives, friends and strangers can be injured or killed in alcohol-related accidents and assaults. The risk factors for addiction include both genetics and lifestyle. Dr. Ashish Bhatt explains how the combination of influences and genetics can cause some to develop a substance use disorder earlier in life than others. Mixing prescription drugs with alcohol is a common practice among individuals struggling with substance use disorder. Alcohol can mess with medication and people can become addicted to the pleasurable effects caused by drinking and prescription drugs.

Understanding Your Condition

Another environmental factor, income, can also play a role in the amount of alcohol a person consumes. Contrary to popular belief, individuals who come from affluent neighborhoods are more likely to drink than those living below poverty. Gallup’s recent annual consumption habits poll showed that roughly 78% of people with an annual household income $75,000 or more consume alcohol. This is significantly higher than the 45% of people who drink alcohol and have an annual household income of less than $30,000. Research has shown a close link between alcoholism and biological factors, particularly genetics and physiology. While some individuals can limit the amount of alcohol they consume, others feel a strong impulse to keep going.

• 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.
• Because the chronic memory loss of Korsakoff syndrome often follows an episode of Wernicke encephalopathy, the chronic disorder is sometimes known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.
• If you have any of these symptoms, your drinking may already be a cause for concern.
• Hosted by Amy Morin, LCSW, this episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast shares strategies for coping with alcohol cravings and other addictions, featuring addiction specialist John Umhau, MD.

The more you turn to alcohol to ease feelings of pain and hardship, the more your body becomes tolerant to the drug and relies on its effects. Co-occurring alcohol abuse and mental health conditions, like depression, bipolar and schizophrenia, can cause an array of serious side effects. In order to overcome these issues, each one should be treated by a medical specialist. It’s not unusual for young people to want to drink before the legal age of 21. Peer pressure, wanting to fit in socially, and a desire to feel more mature than one’s actual age are common motivating factors for a young person to try alcohol.

Early Symptoms

In these families, heavy drinking is normalized and glamorized; it becomes socially acceptable, expected, and potentially desirable. You’re more likely to develop an addiction if a parent or relative has dealt with alcohol use disorder. Although there isn’t one true gene that causes alcoholism, many scientists believe that several genes are responsible for about half the risk of developing it. People with these genes are also more likely to misuse alcohol if they also deal with social and psychological influences related to addiction.

• About one-third of people with a mental health disorder are also struggling with alcoholism.
• Listen to relatives, friends or co-workers when they ask you to examine your drinking habits or to seek help.
• No matter how hopeless alcohol use disorder may seem, treatment can help.
• Since there isn’t one exact cause of alcoholism, experts instead identify “risk factors” as potentials for development.
• Alcoholism, now known as alcohol use disorder, is a condition in which a person has a desire or physical need to consume alcohol.