Identifying Some of the Most Common Causes of Alcoholism

Alcoholism is one of the most commonly diagnosed substance use disorders in the country. In fact, according to the National Institute on Alcohol and Alcoholism, over 29 million people over the age of 12 have experienced alcohol use disorder in the past year alone. Understanding the causes of alcoholism and why it’s so prevalent can help to break the stigmas associated with alcohol abuse. This way, more people who are struggling with alcoholism can get the help they need through treatment and recovery, leading to a more fulfilling and healthy life.

Understanding the Causes of Alcoholism

There is no one thing that causes a person to be at a higher risk for developing alcoholism. Every person is different, and each person who develops alcohol use disorder may decide to pick up their first drink for any number of reasons. And, addiction, including alcoholism, can impact anyone’s life, regardless of age, culture, race, religion, or any other descriptor. However, there are some commonly identified things that factor into whether or not a person is at a higher risk for alcoholism, commonly referred to as causes of alcoholism.

Some of the more commonly cited causes of alcoholism can include:

Physical Causes of Alcoholism

Something happens in the body for a person to develop alcoholism. People who have family members who also struggle with alcoholism are at a higher risk of developing alcohol use disorder themselves as a result of these biological factors. These genetic factors are believed to play a part in how some people can stop drinking after a couple of beers and others (people who develop alcoholism) can drink all night without feeling like they need to stop. This is because people who have a genetic predisposition for alcoholism may experience more of a pleasurable feeling, which can cause the brain to tell the body to repeat the behavior of drinking. Thus, leading to dependence and eventual addiction to alcohol.

Social Causes of Alcoholism

Along with physical, and biological causes of alcoholism, there are also social things that can put people at risk for developing alcoholism. For example, things like friends, family, culture, and even religious beliefs can be risks for people to develop alcoholism. When you are surrounded by a society that accepts and normalizes drinking, people find more reasons to drink and even drink heavily, which can increase the risk of developing an addiction to alcohol. Furthermore, being exposed to alcohol as a young person when social circles, like family, are involved in drinking can increase a person’s risk of developing substance use issues.

Psychological Causes of Alcohol Use Disorder

Another thing that can contribute to the risk of alcohol use disorder is psychological influences. Many people who struggle with mental health issues don’t get the help they need to manage the symptoms of mental health conditions. This is often due to not wanting to face judgment from others or other social stigmas to get mental health help. Instead of getting help, people living with the effects of mental health issues may try to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol. This can lead to the development of alcoholism and other substance use issues. So, psychological issues also play a role in causing alcoholism.


Alcoholism Treatment in South Florida

If you are searching and haven’t been able to find alcoholism treatment in South Florida, don’t worry because The Delray Center for Healing has your answer. We have been helping thousands of people suffering from alcoholism by getting them back on track to leading a sober life for many years. Alcoholism destroys the body and its organs over time, causing many serious complications and if left untreated, it could eventually cause death in serious cases.

There are many dangerous side effects, some of them more serious than others. What are some of alcoholism’s side effects you might be wondering now? A lifetime of drinking large amounts of alcohol can cause cancer eventually. Some of the these types of cancer are mouth, digestive tract, and liver cancers. Evidence suggests that this could be because when you drink, the alcohol in your body is converted into a toxic chemical called acetaldehyde. This can damage your DNA and stop your cells from repairing that damage, which can lead to cancer. Alcoholism treatment in South Florida is the solution to becoming sober and not developing cancer in the first place. Another serious side effect from alcoholism is damage to the brain, sometimes referred to as wet brain. Alcohol alters the brain’s chemistry and increases the risk of depression, and is often associated with a range of mental health problems.

A recent British survey found that people suffering from anxiety or depression were twice as likely to be heavy or problem drinkers. As you can see alcoholism is serious and must be treated as soon as possible. For alcoholism treatment in South Florida contact us for more information. The Delray Center for Healing is committed to help you through our effective programs and highly trained staff.