MayoClinic.com defines alcoholism as a chronic disease that causes a person to lose control over how much he drinks. In addition, he cannot control when he drinks or how long he drinks when drinking. He continues to drink regardless of the problems it brings into his life. His finances may fall apart, his relationships may crumble and the law may become his enemy, yet he continues to drink. A variety of reasons contribute to this disease, from genetics to behavioral disorders.
Family History of Alcoholism
MayoClinic.com states that the risk of suffering from alcoholism is greater for a person whose parent is an alcoholic. HealthCommunities.com substantiates this, explaining that younger family members tend to copy the actions of older family members, including parents and grandparents. Should these relatives have an alcohol addiction and set this as an example for the younger children in their family, the children may view this as normal and acceptable behavior.
Gender
Both MayoClinic.com and the University of Maryland Medical Center explain that men are more likely to become alcoholics than women, though the reason is not known. In addition, women are more likely than men to die from an alcohol-related complication, such as liver disease.
History of Abuse as a Child
The University of Maryland Medical Center explains that adults who suffered abuse as children are at greater risk for becoming an alcoholic versus children who were not abused. This includes both sexual and physical abuse, and in the long run, these people respond worse to treatment for their addiction than those who were never abused.
Psychiatric Disorders
Aside from having an increased risk of developing alcoholism, people with depression or anxiety are also at risk for developing other addictions, such as smoking. The University of Maryland Medical Center and MayoClinic.com both agree that a person who is dependent on alcohol also has a psychiatric disorder, depression being the most common. They add that alcohol abuse is a common addiction among those with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
