The Causes of Alcoholism Every person walks a unique path to alcoholism. Some have alcoholism or addiction in their families; others do not. Some started using alcohol to relieve the symptoms associated with depression or anxiety; others have no history of a mental health disorder. Many developed alcoholism as a result of environment or peer pressure to drink. Some started early in life. Others began using after a traumatic event forced them to seek the false comfort that comes in a bottle. Every day, the Recovery Support Team at The Ranch PA sees the different factors that led our clients to become addicted to alcohol or drugs. Although the study of addiction has grown by leaps and bounds since the creation of Alcoholics Anonymous many decades ago, we are still far from understanding why some people become addicted and others do not. Factors Influencing Alcoholism Just like any other disease, developing alcoholism is more likely when certain risk factors are present. If you have a genetic link to addiction, you are 50% more likely to develop alcoholism yourself. If you have a mental health disorder such as depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, or any other issue, you are more likely to develop a substance abuse problem. If you spend time with people who drink or do drugs, you are more likely to drink and do drugs yourself. If you start drinking or doing drugs during adolescence, you are more likely to develop addiction later in life. It is important to remember that demonstrating one or even all these risk factors does not mean you will definitely become addicted to alcohol or drugs. Not only do people with these risk factors live sober lifestyles every day, those with no risk factors sometimes risk their lives because of alcohol or drug abuse. The good news is that simple awareness of the risk factors of alcoholism and addiction may make you more likely to avoid the trap of addiction and recognize them in others. Alcohol Awareness Infographic This month marks the 27th Annual NCADD Alcohol Awareness Month. Sponsored by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc., Alcohol Awareness Month was founded in 1987 and is held every April. The purpose is to spread awareness and understanding about alcoholism in order to erase the negative stigma attached to the disease. The negative stigma prevents countless individuals from seeking help. To help the NCADD raise awareness about alcoholism this month, we’ve created an infographic that discusses alcoholism and how people become alcoholics. At The Ranch PA we are committed to helping anyone who’s suffering from an addiction understand how and why addiction started. Are people more likely to become alcoholics because of nature or nurture? The following data and statistics break down the reasons and situations in which people turn to alcohol for comfort, along with the role that genetics play. The Ranch PA Can Help If you or someone you care about is addicted to alcohol or drugs, call The Ranch PA for more information on our life-saving holistic recovery program today. Embed me! <img src=”https://www.recoveryranchpa.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/AlcoholismInfographic.jpg” alt=”One Drink Too Many Is A Result of Nature or Nurture?” /><br /><a title=”The Ranch PA” href=”https://dmclarityway.wpengine.com”>Infographic by The Ranch PA</a> If you enjoyed this infographic, please share it with your friends! Category: InfographicsBy The Ranch PAApril 11, 2013Tags: infographicsPost navigationPreviousPrevious post:Billie Joe Armstrong Reveals Substance AbuseNextNext post:When a Loved One Needs Emergency Drug TreatmentRelated postsFamous Drug Movies: A Geographic Re-TellingJanuary 6, 2016The Cost of Your DrinkingNovember 30, 2015The Evolution of Cigarettes in One Big Puff [Infographic]November 17, 2015Alcohol in the OfficeOctober 16, 2015A Day of Drug UseSeptember 1, 2015Calories and Cocktails – The True Weight of Your DrinkJuly 28, 2015