Alcohol addiction is a disease that has many causes, which makes it next to impossible to find one cure or treatment that will work for everyone. Each person who has an alcohol problem has a reason, or more than one reason that they became dependent. There are some warning signs to watch for and risk factors that warn of a person’s impending alcohol addiction.

Doctors and scientists have widely varying opinions on how heredity affects a person’s likelihood of becoming an alcoholic, but it is well known that genetics does play a part. Just like heart disease or cancer, a person’s family history could influence their chances of becoming addicted to alcohol. Why this is true isn’t really known, but most believe that it may be caused by a hereditary malfunction in the area of the body that’s responsible for serotonin transmission.

Even if there’s no family history of alcoholism, a person can still have a chemical imbalance that will influence their chances of becoming addicted. Like we said earlier, low serotonin levels can cause it, as can certain brain injuries. The act of drinking itself can trigger a chemical imbalance, making a person more likely to become addicted to alcohol.

A lot of people start drinking so that they can deal with stress in their life. Stress can come from work, home life, a devastating loss, or a relationship coming to an end. People turn to alcohol as a temporary way to feel better or mask the pain they’re going through. If they continue drinking, they’re much more likely to become addicted to alcohol- and drinking while dealing with stress is likely to cause even more stress!

Many alcoholics start out as social drinkers. Most of us like the idea of always being surrounded by those we like or care about, and the idea of being the life of the party is appealing to a lot of people. However, for the person who is or may become addicted to alcohol, these places and situations are stressful. While everyone else is fine with consuming a reasonable or “social” amount of alcohol, the alcoholic can’t stop at one or two drinks and the addiction worsens.

There are a lot of studies that show this: Where alcohol is more easily available, the people are much more likely to be addicted. These same studies also suggest that in places where drinking is discouraged, alcohol addiction is much less of a problem.

The causes of alcohol addiction are almost as varied as the people with the disease, which can make treatment very difficult. Many alcoholics will need a detoxification program, as well as long term care. Groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, can provide the emotional support that’s necessary for a person to recover from alcohol addiction. If you or a family member has an alcohol problem, get evaluated by a doctor- who will be able to refer you to an appropriate treatment program.

Drug Enforcement Agnecy (DEA) – http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/index.htm
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) – http://www.samhsa.gov/
National Institue of Health (NIH) – http://www.nih.gov/