Alcohol is a legal substance controlled by federal government laws and regulations. Alcohol lowers anxiety and inhibitions when taken into the body. Its consumption has several side effects that range from loss of coordination and slurred speech. The use of alcohol comes in different forms, which include beer, wine, and hard liquor. Apparently, not everyone who drinks alcohol whose life is negatively affected by alcohol on a consistent basis is considered to have an alcohol use disorder. Alcoholism can affect people of all walks of life regardless of their race, background or ethnicity. Researchers have tried to come up with factors such as sex, race, genetics, or socioeconomics that are believed to be the probable causes of alcohol addiction in people. However, no single researcher has been able to come up with a single cause as all these factors combined contribute to alcohol addiction. Alcohol addiction starts from somewhere. The paper will discuss the causes of alcohol addiction, its symptoms, statistics, and risk factors associated with alcohol use disorder and the treatment methods for addicts.
Statistics
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention determined that nearly half of US citizens over the age of 18 are regular drinkers with 8.5% affected by alcoholism. Of this number, 50% American have admitted to being alcohol addicts. Among this population with the alcohol use disorder are 12-17 year olds whose rate of alcohol dependence is at 4.6%. The prevalence rate for alcohol dependence in the US for men currently at 12.4% which is higher than that of women estimated at 4.9%. However the prevalence rates for alcohol use disorder reduces in the middle ages and further to its lowest rates that are seen among individuals who are 65 years or older and has been laced at 1.5%.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Causes of alcohol addiction
Chronic consumption of alcoholic drinks (Alcohol dependence Syndrome) often defines the characteristics behaviors of alcoholics. It results in impaired control over drinking thereby leading to loss of control over one’s life (Ringold, Lynm, & Glass, 2006) . Several studies have come up with factors they think to be the probable causes of alcoholism. The leading factors that are associated with alcohol addiction are genetics, psychological and social factors.
Genetics
Various scientific evidence has suggested that genetics plays a significant role when it comes to alcohol addiction. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), states that familial transmission of alcoholism does not result solely due to environmental factors (Project Know 2018) . This research was based on the behavioral pattern of individuals whose families have a history of alcoholism. In addition to this, an investigation that focused on a specific DRD2 gene found that it was associated with addiction. However, the connection that this gene has with addiction is not yet verified by researchers.
In addition to this, a study conducted on two pairs of twins that were nurtured by separate alcoholic adoptive parents revealed that the incidence of alcohol addiction was more prevalent in the twins with an alcoholic biological father compared to the twins born of a father who is a non-alcoholic (Project Know 2018) . Furthermore, it was noted that identical twins who share the same genetic components were more susceptible to alcoholism compared to fraternal twins with only 50% of shared genes. However, it cannot be said that all causes of alcohol addiction in families are purely due to genetic factors. Studies indicate this as not all children with alcoholic parents become addicted to alcohol.
Psychological Factors
The reason as to why most individuals drink alcohol is to improve their moods and restore their spirits. However, consuming alcohol in massive amounts affects neurotransmitters in the brain that produces feelings such as euphoria and a sense of happiness and calm. Continuous consumption results in psychological dependence as it affects the central nervous system of the brain. Long-term consumption of alcohol, therefore, affects the neurotransmitters in the in the brain. When a person stops taking alcohol, he or she will experience withdrawal syndromes that range from palpitations and high blood pressure. They will, therefore, return to drinking alcohol as a way of preventing these symptoms from recurring (Project Know 2018) . This cycle continues as time goes by and eventually, one finds themselves addicted to alcohol.
Furthermore, when people turn to alcohol consumption through binge drinking as a way of forgetting their life's struggles and problems, they become addicts. They hope that by taking in copious amounts of alcohol, they will forget that their problem doesn’t exist. Continuous consumption of alcohol leads to alcohol tolerance which leads to higher alcohol consumption and finally alcoholism (Project Know 2018) .
Another psychological cause associated with alcohol addiction is depression (Sher, 2004) . However, alcoholism and depression co-exist and is evident among alcohol addicts who demonstrate mood swings when they are drunk. Alcohol and affective disorders interactions may be linked genetically or may exist because of the other. An example of this is seen in people with cases of anxiety or depression who turn to drinking to cope with their condition. This is similar to alcohol addicts who display depression symptoms as a result of drinking. In a study conducted by the National Comorbidity Survey (NCS) in the US, it was found that the lifetime odds of alcohol dependence were higher in both men and women with major depression (Sher, 2004) . Consequently, NCS discovered that there were higher chances of depression among subjects with alcohol dependence. This study was in agreement with another which found that 30.5% of individuals with an affective disorder were found to be more dependent on alcohol compared with 16.8% who did not have an affective disorder (Sher, 2004) .
Symptoms
It is often difficult to recognize alcohol addiction in individuals. Unlike other drugs, alcohol is common and widely accepted in many cultures. It is used in celebrations and enjoyment in many social institutions. This situation makes it more difficult to differentiate between an individual who likes to have a few drinks now and then and one with the real problem. Symptoms associated with active addiction include frequency or increased quantity of use, high tolerance to alcohol, drinking at inappropriate times and dependence on alcohol for everyday functioning. Additionally, the symptoms may also show in increased depression and emotional issues, and in legal or professional problems that may include loss of one’s job or arrest.
Risk Factors for Alcoholism
The use of alcohol has been identified as one of the important risk factors for illness, mortality, and disability. Excessive use of alcohol has been found to contribute to some diseases and injuries worldwide. The risk factors of alcohol consumption are as follows;
Infectious diseases
Alcoholism has a detrimental impact when it comes to major infectious diseases. These diseases include tuberculosis, sexually transmitted infection including HIV/AIDs and pneumonia (Rehm) . Conversely, various studies demonstrate that the impact of excessive consumption of alcohol on infectious diseases is substantial. Heavy consumption of alcohol increases the risk of these diseases in people who are dependent on alcohol. Furthermore, alcohol addiction is associated with poorer outcomes from infectious conditions by way of social factors. Individuals who are dependent on alcohol are often stigmatized which increases the chances of them being unemployed and destitute. For this reason, they tend to live in seclusion and more crowded quarters that expose them to high chances of infection and lower recovery (Rehm) .
Cancer
Various studies have established links between heavy drinking and cancer of the oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, liver, colorectum and female breasts. However, Rehm states that “The molecular and biochemical mechanisms through which chronic alcohol consumption leads to the development of cancers of various organs are not yet fully understood." Apparently, a suggestion has been made concerning these mechanisms in that they differ by target organs and may include variations in gene encoding enzymes that are responsible for the metabolism of ethanol, increased estrogen concentrations and DNA repair (Rehm) .
Neuropsychiatric Disorders
Alcohol dependence has been found to be one of the factors that contribute to disorders related to neuropsychiatry. Although the causality of this association is not clear, heavy consumption of alcohol has been linked primarily to all mental illnesses. An example of this is seen in the relationship between alcohol dependence and epilepsy. As Rehm states, it is substantial evidence that excessive consumption of alcohol can cause unprovoked seizures. This occurrence has enabled researchers to determine the probable biological pathways that might underline this relationship. In addition to this, several studies have determined that alcohol addiction and epilepsy are related.
Diseases of the liver and pancreas
Excessive consumption of alcohol has been linked to liver and pancreas diseases. This association is supported by the existence of alcoholic liver diseases, alcoholic liver cirrhosis and alcoholic-induced acute or chronic pancreatitis (Rehm) . Consequently, this increases the risk of mortality from these diseases which is often higher than the chances of morbidity. This finding gives us a clear view of how continuous alcohol consumption even at lower levels after the previous diagnosis of liver and pancreas diseases increases the risk of severe outcomes.
Unintentional and Intentional Injuries
Alcoholism is not only associated with intentional injuries but also accidental injuries. Alcohol addiction has been found to increase the rate of suicide risks in addition to aggression which is not limited to but includes homicides. Several factors that include biological pathways have been found to contribute to these issues. The most common unintentional injury associated with alcohol dependence is traffic accidents (Ringold, Lynm, & Glass, 2006) .
Treatment
Sadly, there is no known cure for alcohol addiction. However effective treatment means are available. The treatment type that a doctor recommends depends on the level of dependence or whether there is an associated medical condition. Personal preferences of the patient may determine the mode of treatment. In most cases, acute withdrawal and detoxification are used treat patients to prevent and treat withdrawal symptoms which at most times can be severe and life-threatening (Ringold, Lynm, & Glass, 2006) . In addition to this, medications may be given to patients to prevent any cases of relapse. Furthermore, individual or family counseling is used as part of patient’s treatment programs.
Alcohol addiction is a serious illness that should be taken seriously by the society. Alcohol dependence among adolescents and adults alike often results in severe consequences that in most cases can lead to the destruction of an individual's life. Therefore society should be vigilant in ensuring that this issue is prevented at all cost. Additionally, efficient care and treatment programs should be availed to addicted persons, and constant medication and monitoring should be taken into account to avoid cases of relapse.
References
Project Know 2018. (n.d.). What Causes Alcoholism? Retrieved from ProjectKnow: https://www.projectknow.com/research/alcoholism-causes/
Rehm, J. The Risks Associated With Alcohol Use and Alcoholism. Alcohol Research & Health, 34 (2).
Ringold, S., Lynm, C., & Glass, M. R. (2006, May 3). Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism . Retrieved from Jama Network: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/202792
Sher, L. (2004). Depression and Alcoholism. International Journal of Medicine, 97 (4), 237-240.
