This includes information we publish on our website, which undergoes a thorough editorial process. Research also shows that men are more likely than women to become alcoholics. A study reported by the CDC found that in 2019, 7% of men had an alcohol use disorder, compared with 4% of women.
One in eight American adults is an alcoholic, study says – The Washington Post
One in eight American adults is an alcoholic, study says.
Posted: Fri, 11 Aug 2017 07:00:00 GMT [source]
When women, men, Blacks, and Whites were analyzed separately, the same set of psychosocial predictor variables emerged for each subgroup. Consequently, all respondents are included in the analyses reported here. Find out how many people have alcohol use disorder in the United States across age groups and demographics. Ultimately, people become alcoholics because of a process known as ‘positive reinforcement’. Positive reinforcement encourages certain patterns of behaviour to form by offering a perceived ‘reward’ for that behaviour.
How can you prevent alcohol use disorder?
The result is that people will use increasing amounts of alcohol and they eventually become addicted. Genetic, psychological, social and environmental factors can impact how drinking alcohol affects your body and behavior. Theories why do people become alcoholics suggest that for certain people drinking has a different and stronger impact that can lead to alcohol use disorder. Replication of this study is also needed with members of other ethnic groups and infrequent drinkers.
This can then feed into a vicious circle because you need to drink to get rid of your withdrawal symptoms, causing the cycle to continue. The earlier a person begins experimenting with alcohol, the higher the risk of an alcohol use disorder. Research shows that those who begin drinking in the early to mid teen years are more likely to develop problems with alcohol.
How Does Someone Become an Alcoholic?
If a person grew up in an alcoholic home, there’s a high chance of developing alcoholism. However, an individual who struggles with drinking may struggle to avoid alcohol consumption. If Ray could have been persuaded to seek help then from a mental health practitioner, for what was clearly depression, all might have ended very differently.