Alcohol Abuse: Causes, Risk Factors & Symptoms

Causes

Several factors can contribute to alcohol abuse and alcoholism, including:

• Genes
• Brain chemicals that may be different than normal
• Social pressure
• Emotional stress
• Pain
• Depression and other mental health problems
• Problem drinking behaviors learned from family or friends

Risk Factors

These factors increase your chance of developing alcoholism. Tell your doctor if you have any of these risk factors:

• Sex: male
• Family members who abuse alcohol (especially men whose fathers or brothers are alcoholic)
• Starting to use alcohol at an early age (younger than 14)
• Using illicit drugs or non-medical use of prescription drugs
• Peer pressure
• Easy access to alcoholic beverages
• Psychiatric disorders, such as depression or anxiety
• Smoking

Symptoms

It is common to deny an alcohol problem. Alcohol abuse can occur without physical dependence.

Alcohol abuse symptoms include:

• Repeated work, school, or home problems due to drinking
• Risking physical safety
• Recurring trouble with the law, often including drinking and driving
• Continuing to drink despite alcohol-related difficulties

Symptoms of alcoholism include:

• Craving a drink
• Unable to stop or limit drinking
• Needing greater amounts of alcohol to feel the same effect
• Giving up activities in order to drink or recover from alcohol
• Drinking that continues even when it causes or worsens health problems
• Wanting to stop or reduce drinking, but not being able

Withdrawal symptoms if alcohol is stopped include:

• Nausea
• Sweating
• Shaking
• Anxiety
• Increased blood pressure
• Seizures ( delirium tremens [DTs])

The brain, nervous system, heart, liver, stomach, gastrointestinal tract, and pancreas can all be damaged by alcoholism.