Alcoholism has various definitions, depending on who defines it. To those who witness it firsthand, it seems like a form of growing madness. Even within the medical community there are differing views on alcoholism. Psychiatrists may focus on the psychological components of alcoholism and the alcoholic’s interaction with life and society. Other doctors may see alcoholism purely as a physical addiction and choose to treat it with drugs. Both approaches are generally used, particularly with advanced alcoholism. Various political and religious groups may choose to view alcoholism in a different light. Due to the failure of prohibition, few politicians would approve of its return, yet even today some jurisdictions limit alcohol consumption in public to maintain public order.
Alcohol abuse is probably as old as agriculture, when humans first produced alcohol. Some people believe that the production of alcohol became a way to purify water. This would have protected early humans from the risks associated with catching intestinal parasites from drinking water.
Some human genes seem to prevent some people from producing chemicals inside their brains that alcohol can mimic. This is what it means when an individual is considered to have a genetic vulnerability to alcohol addiction. Several genes have been identified that are linked to this vulnerability.
Although there may be a genetic vulnerability to alcohol abuse in some people, few experts in the field would consider genetics to be the sole cause of alcoholism. The social groups to which the individual belongs and the culture within those groups in relation to alcohol use can also have an impact on the drinker. These social groups would also include family members. It can be difficult to separate a genetic vulnerability and a tendency in some families to drink on a variety of occasions and perhaps often. To say that it runs in the family may not be identifying much in terms of exact causes.
There seems to be ample evidence to suggest that the social behaviors of some groups, as well as the psychological vulnerabilities of some people, may contribute to the development of alcoholism. An individual’s vulnerability can be increased by poor emotional health. Emotional health can be affected both by external events in an individual’s life and by their personal reaction to these events. Examples may be unhappy employment or job loss, deterioration or loss of a romantic relationship, or even health problems. Part of the problem is the problem itself, but part of the responsibility lies with how the individual chooses to deal with the problem.
The damage to an alcoholic’s body, brain, social life, and finances can be devastating in the long run. The longer alcoholism lasts, the greater the resulting damage. With the exception of drinking and driving convictions, modern societies have no mechanism to compel an alcoholic to seek treatment, regardless of how much damage they have done to their lives.
Cures for alcoholism always carry the potential for failure; a percentage of alcoholics will always start drinking again. Some organizations, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, favor total abstinence. Others acknowledge that going back to drinking, as long as it’s moderate, isn’t necessarily a failure.
Dealing with alcoholism is a lifelong struggle for those who suffer from it. Unfortunately, those who struggle with this disease can suffer considerable damage before making the decision to try to recover. Science and medicine continue to make strides in dealing with alcoholism, but the real struggle is in the life and resolve of every alcoholic trying to get well.
