What Causes Alcohol Abuse?

Why can one person drink responsibly while another loses his health and possibly his family? There is no simple answer for the cause of alcohol abuse or addiction. But there are ways to determine if you are at risk for abusing alcohol or becoming addicted.

Family history is probably the strongest indicator. Though the debate continues regarding the effects of environment verses the effects of genetics, one fact is clear: A family history of alcohol abuse or addiction puts you at greater risk.

Peer pressure, even among adults, can also be a factor. Drinking to intoxication is often expected at work-related parties (especially around the holidays), and taking clients out for a drink is a common practice. Giving in to these pressures can begin to create a paradigm shift in the way a person views alcohol, or may trigger a latent propensity for alcohol abuse or addiction.

A person who experiences a significant life change or stressful situation may begin to abuse alcohol. This is especially true of someone who hasn’t developed adequate, healthy coping skills. The sedative-like effect of alcohol can make it a tempting and at least temporarily effective form of self-medication.

For the same reason, mental health issues can contribute to alcohol abuse as well. A person may turn to alcohol as a way to self-medicate, especially if his mental illness hasn’t been diagnosed and/or isn’t being properly treated. Studies have found that 37 percent of all alcohol abusers have at least one serious mental illness. Similarly, 29 percent of people diagnosed as mentally ill abuse either alcohol or drugs.

Treating the co-occurring conditions of alcohol abuse and mental illness can only be done under the close supervision of a mental health professional who is experienced in treating this complicated combination. In these cases, professional help is usually the only way to achieve lasting recovery.