Excessive drinking over time can lead to a physical dependence on alcohol. Drinking more than 15 drinks a week for men or 12 drinks a week for women increases the risk of developing alcohol dependence, according to the Mayo Clinic. The reasons for alcoholism, however, involve other factors that predispose people to the disorder.
Genetics
Inherited genes indicate a possible connection with alcoholism, although this remains unproven, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). People with a family history of alcoholism have been found to have a smaller region of the brain that monitors craving. People in alcoholic families may lack warning signals that stop them from drinking. Research suggests that high levels of certain neurotransmitter receptors in the brain may inhibit behavioral responses to alcohol in people with a family history of alcoholism, UMMC notes. People with a family history of alcoholism are more likely to drink before age 20.
Chemical Imbalances
Long-term drinking may alter neurotransmitters in the brain, causing a need to relax from pressure and restore pleasurable feelings, according to UMMC. Changes in chemical levels may increase the reaction to stress and excitement when drinking is stopped. Higher levels of norepinephrine, an adrenaline hormone, stimulate the nervous system and agitation. The brain chemical responses may be involved in the withdrawal symptoms from alcohol that cause an alcoholic's intense need for a drink to calm down.
Emotional Disorders
Depression, anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may increase the risk of abusing alcohol and becoming an alcoholic, the Mayo Clinic says. Many people who abuse alcohol also suffer from accompanying disorders. Panic disorders and phobias have been linked to alcohol and substance abuse.
Age
People who begin drinking early in life, especially in their teens, increase the risk of becoming alcoholics, the Mayo Clinic says. The risks are increased even more if abuse, family violence, depression or stress overwhelm a young person's life. Lack of experience and life skills make it easier for young people to ignore the hazards of binge drinking and to make impaired judgments. People who continue the same pattern of drinking as the age can develop a dependence, UMMC says. Alcoholism can also develop in elderly people, who may start drinking heavily because of health or financial concerns. Their symptoms are often overlooked because the signs are mistakenly connected to aging.
Environment
Lack of parental monitoring or poor parent-child relationships can contribute to alcohol abuse, according to the Mental Health Channel. This may lead to conduct disorders and ineffective coping skills. Many children of alcoholics who become alcoholics do not necessarily inherit genes from their parents, but may be influenced when drinking alcohol is a common activity in the home as they grow.
Group Factors
More men than women are alcoholics, although female alcoholism has been increasing, according to UMMC. Alcoholism appears to occur equally among Caucasians, African-Americans and Hispanic-Americans. Certain groups such as Native Americans have a higher incidence of alcoholism than other groups. Jewish and Asian Americans have lower rates of alcoholism. It is not certain if this is caused by biological or cultural factors.
