What Drives Alcohol Addiction?

There are many different factors that play a huge part in an alcohol addiction. Let's take the average American's lifestyle, for example. We'll name him John. John is born into a lower-middle class suburban household. His mom has various get-togethers with her friends, where the kids play while the adults have a few drinks and talk. His dad is a huge sports fan who goes out to the bars almost every night of the week to see or regale a “big game.” John goes to school with kids who have similar home lives. As he grows up, he sees alcohol in the grocery stores, in his home, in his friends' houses, on t.v., on billboards, in magazines. When John reaches high school, he joins his school's sports teams. Through these people and some of his other friends, John starts getting invited to parties. At those parties, everyone is drinking. He wants to fit in, so he grabs a red plastic cup and fills it at the keg. Before he knows it, he is out of control and loving it. John may or may not get into trouble with his parents or with the law. He will go to college and experience or of theses parties. He turns 21, and goes out for drinks with his already 21 year old friends, or his parents. After college, John might get married and become a big sports fan. Do you see where this is going? Alcohol is everywhere. It is something that is ingrained in our culture. But, if that is all it takes to become an alcoholic, why isn't everyone?

What really needs to be examined here is, what is alcohol dependence and what drives this addiction? When a person develops a destructive pattern of abusing alcohol, this is considered an alcohol dependence or addiction. This disease affects over 14 million people in the United States alone. Many people wonder if it is a hereditary disease, and how it is caused to begin with. There is no single origin of the dependence alcohol causes. It is viewed and treated as a mental disorder, being the result of a complex grouping of genetic, psychological, and environmental factors in a person's life. So, no, it is not always hereditary (although it can be), but a child with alcoholic parents or guardians is much more likely to become an alcohol addict simply because of the environment they grew up in.

If you think you have a problem with alcohol addiction or know someone who might, don't wait to contact an alcohol treatment center for help. There are so many great treatments out there to take advantage of. Many alcohol treatment programs focus on relapse prevention, short-term behavioral goals, and cognitive therapies. It is important to go to alcohol rehab and learn about ways to work through your alcohol dependence. Don't wait any longer to get the life you want back on track!