Social Causes of Alcoholism

The Basics

Alcoholism is the act of consuming alcohol on such a regular basis that it can destroy lives, relationships, families and careers. The general consensus among doctors and physicians is that there is no one thing that causes alcoholism. But many things are said to psychologically lead a person down the path to becoming an alcoholic. A number of these things are social factors, such as the people we surround ourselves with and our families. The way certain personality types react to bad or stressful events can increase a person's chances of becoming an alcoholic.

Genetics

Genetics and a family history are social factors that can cause a person to become an alcoholic. If drinking is a large part of family life or family-related events, this can lead a person to start drinking to the point of overindulgence. Once this happens enough, it can lead a person to develop a dependency for alcohol. If a person's family generally has a high tolerance for alcohol, studies have shown that genetically the individual will have a high tolerance, too. This leads to overindulgence and, in certain cases, alcoholism.

Enablers

Friends and family members can also be "enablers," which can cause a person to develop alcoholism. If someone gives up drinking before a long-term problem begins, this can lead to feeling alone or like an outcast simply by the way his core group of individuals reacts to it. If a person hangs around with friends who like to drink and he stops drinking, the friends may not take well to it. This can cause a person to begin drinking again. The same goes for family members under the same circumstances. Simply falling into the habit of drinking can also cause alcoholism. If you're used to going out and getting drunk with friends, it leads to a routine--which can lead to becoming an alcoholic.

References

• Causes of Alcoholism