You met your husband when you started your rotation at the hospital he worked at. At first, you thought it was just a cliché, meeting someone at work and falling in love. But it actually happened for you both, his quick wit and charm paired with a caring and soft personality was everything you hoped for in a life partner. The romance blossomed quickly, and soon you were spending all of your time together. There was only one downside: he never talked about his family much. This didn’t seem like a big deal at first, but you wondered if you would ever meet them one day, or if they were even alive.
As time went on, you saw that he really liked to drink alcohol. He would have at least three drinks per day, and sometimes more depending on how he was feeling. It was never too big of a concern – he always made it to work on time and provided for you no matter what. One night, he has a few too many, and actually starts talking about his family. You see an opportunity and begin asking him questions, trying to get him to open up. He explains that his father was an alcoholic, and abused him and his mom. Your husband explains he never wanted to be that person, but he can’t help turning to alcohol to cope with stress. It all makes sense to you now, and looking at your husband, you think it may be a good time to look into some help.
In Pinellas County, 36.4% of adults aged 18 to 44 engaged in binge or heavy drinking in 2019. Tranquil Shores is a leading provider of addiction treatment here on the Gulf Coast, and offers different programs for men and women. Our facility is secluded and right on the beach, offering a safe and relaxing place to heal from alcohol use disorder. Today, we are discussing the risk factors for alcoholism, and what they mean for your loved one.
Risk Factors for Alcoholism
There are many risk factors that can lead to someone developing an alcohol use disorder. These can occur in childhood, after a traumatic event, or come from our environment. Having risk factors for alcoholism does not guarantee the condition will develop, but they do increase the possibility.
Psychological Factors
Different psychological factors can contribute to alcoholism, but many are associated with mental health. Depression is common in those living with alcoholism, and most use alcohol to cope and manage their symptoms. Anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are also common in those with an alcohol use disorder. When mental health is in a poor state, the person may start drinking to numb the psychological pain of the condition. This can lead to the brain associating alcohol with a positive emotion, which in turn leads to developing alcoholism.
Personality Factors
There is no set personality trait associated with alcohol use disorder, but impulsiveness is often referenced. There are five categories that are used to describe personality – neuroticism, agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness, and extroversion. In those who drink moderately or heavily, it has been found that neuroticism is a high cause. Neuroticism is how people experience negative emotions, and both men and women who scored high in this category were associated with a form of alcoholism.
Genetic Factors
Many believe there is a gene or set of genes that will cause addiction, but in reality, that is not true. However, there are genetic components that can be risk factors for developing alcoholism. One gene, the ALDH2 has been linked to alcoholism and also alcohol intolerance. This gene specifically controls how alcohol is metabolized. It is important to realize that there are numerous combinations that make up our genetics, and many different genes can be a part of developing an alcohol use disorder.
Family History of Alcohol Addiction
A family history of alcohol addiction can be a strong risk factor for developing your own alcohol use disorder. When parents or siblings are actively drinking, the environment can become chaotic. Alcohol becomes more important than responsibilities to children, and neglect and abuse can lead to the children wanting to drink themselves. Poor mental health due to the conditions around them caused by the family members’ drinking can also lead to a future alcohol use disorder.
Environmental Factors
Environmental factors refer to the social and communal situations and people that surround us. These factors can influence many different scenarios, one of which is developing alcoholism. When the people around us are always drinking, it becomes easier to drink with them to feel a part of the group. Other environmental factors can cause alcoholism as well.
High Levels of Stress
Stress is one of the biggest factors that can lead to alcoholism. Finances, physical health, mental health, social obligations, and career focus can all cause stress levels to rise. Many turn to alcohol as a way to relieve this stress and be able to relax. Alcohol is a depressant, meaning it slows brain function and creates a sense of calm. The person feels as if the weight of the world is lifted off of their shoulders and that their stress is finally manageable.
The downside to this is that as more alcohol is consumed, the body begins to need it in order to function. Instead of being a stress reliever, alcohol becomes a source of stress when it is not available. This can lead to relationship dysfunction, poor job performance, and financial difficulties. The high stress that the person was trying to manage with alcohol now comes back tenfold, and alcohol is now the source behind it.
Peer Pressure
When we think of peer pressure, we often think of being in middle or high school and our fellow teenage friends pressuring us to try things to make us “cool.” This does happen, and drinking during these years can lead to an alcohol use disorder later in life. But peer pressure also exists for adults. It can start simple, with friends pressuring you to go out to the bar after work even though you don’t drink. When you decide to go, pressure to have a drink can cause you to do so. Before you know it, you have had more than intended, just so your friends would stop putting so much pressure on you. Following this pattern and giving in to the pressure each time can eventually lead to the development of an alcohol use disorder.
Media Advertising
In January of 2023, more than 380 alcohol advertisers invested $69.3 million into their campaigns. While this was a decrease from 2022, tequila, vodka, and winemakers all saw increases in their advertising strategies. This shows the influence that media advertising has on alcohol consumption, and there have been studies that link the two. One study showed that positively recalling alcohol advertisements at age 15 led to a higher number of young men to begin drinking beer at age 18. There are other factors such as environment that still play a role in developing alcoholism, but repeatedly seeing media ad campaigns can be a driving factor.
Get Help for Alcoholism in Pinellas County Today
Having risk factors for alcoholism doesn’t mean that the disorder is permanent. Finding treatment for alcoholism can make a difference and help you learn where your addiction stems from. With guided therapy, coping skill classes, and a strong support system, you will feel empowered to leave alcohol behind and rediscover your passions. It’s never too late to seek help, and taking that first step will be the most freeing experience.
If you or someone you love is showing signs of an alcohol use disorder, reach out today. Tranquil Shores keeps our client-to-therapist ratio small, at 3:1. This ensures you get the one-on-one time you need to find your root causes of addiction and address any traumas or mental health concerns. Call us today at 727-391-7001 to learn more about our treatment program.
