Is Alcoholism Hereditary?
Being born to a mother who drank during pregnancy or having other alcoholic family members increases your risk of alcoholism. Is alcoholism hereditary? Regardless of the roots of your alcoholism, The Ranch PA offers alcohol addiction treatment that will help you recover.
Drinking is common in the United States, with 86.3% of adults consuming alcohol at least once in their lifetime. Additionally, more than half of adults drink at least once a month, while another 26.4% of adults engage in binge drinking on a regular basis. Binge drinking is a type of alcohol abuse and can lead to dependency and alcoholism.
Is Alcoholism Hereditary?
Many people assume that there is an alcoholism gene. However, for those wondering “is alcoholism hereditary?”, alcoholism actually has no known cause. Certain lifestyle choices or environmental factors can play a role in your risk of developing an alcohol abuse disorder. Additionally, having medical conditions or underlying mental health problems also increases your chances of becoming an alcoholic.
Alcohol is both physically and psychologically addictive, meaning your brain and body can become dependent on alcohol in order to function properly. While plenty of people consume alcohol without abusing it, some people can be at a higher risk of developing alcoholism.
Experimenting with alcohol at a young age or having childhood trauma can increase your chances of abusing alcohol. Also, some people are simply more sensitive to the effects of alcohol than others, meaning the intoxication they experience when they drink is more powerful than the average person.
If you’re wondering is alcoholism hereditary, it’s important to remember that while alcoholism can’t be inherited, having close family members with substance abuse problems or a history of alcohol abuse can increase your chances of having a drinking problem. That’s why it’s pragmatic to avoid drugs and alcohol if you have relatives, especially parents, who have struggled with substance abuse disorders.
How is Alcoholism Treated?
Developing alcoholism can take time. However, once you develop alcoholism, it can impact your physical and emotional wellbeing. Even though alcohol is a common element at many social events, ranging from college parties to weddings, it carries a high risk of abuse. Long-term alcoholism can cause damaging consequences, such as:
- Liver and organ damage
- Neurological problems and cognitive impairments
- Malnutrition
- Legal, employment, housing, and relationship problems
- Aggravation of co-occurring mental health disorders
When you develop a dependency on alcohol, early treatment is necessary as your condition will continue to degrade without help. Treatment can take place in either an inpatient or outpatient setting and typically starts with a medically assisted detox. Since alcohol detox symptoms can include serious complications like delirium tremors, completing a detox program is essential to protecting your overall wellbeing during the withdrawal period.
Finding Help for Alcoholism Today
Alcoholism can make you feel trapped, hopeless, and alone. But regardless of what stage of alcoholism you’re trapped in, recovery is always possible. Contact us today at 717.969.9126 to find out more about your treatment options, to answer the question of, is alcoholism hereditary, and to begin your journey to sobriety and recovery.
