9 Alcoholism Risk Factors – Are You at Risk?

There is no stereotypical alcoholic. Alcoholics come in all shapes and sizes, and although many people think of “street people” when they think of alcoholics, homeless alcoholics account for only a small percentage of the total.

Although anyone can succumb to alcoholism, some people are at greater risk than others. Fortunately, anyone concerned about their predisposition to alcoholism can eliminate their risk entirely, simply by abstaining from alcohol.

It is important to note that some people with no or few risk factors for alcoholism will develop the disease and some people with many risk factors will drink heavily for years and never have a problem. There is nothing straightforward about alcoholism.

Here is a list of nine factors that increase a person’s risk of developing alcoholism.

1. Drinking Heavily

Those who abstain from alcohol aren’t at risk of becoming alcoholics, so in functional terms, any alcohol consumption increases the risks. In reality, people who drink moderately have a much lower risk than heavy drinkers. The National Institute of Health recommends not exceeding one drink a day for women and 2 drinks per day for men.

2. Having a Low Response to Alcohol

A study published in the September 2009 issue of Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research showed that people who needed more alcohol to feel buzzed prior to the development of an alcohol tolerance tended to drink more alcohol in a sitting, and drinking more alcohol in a sitting increased the risk of becoming alcohol dependent.

3. Starting to Drink at a Young Age

The earlier you start drinking, the greater your chances of becoming an alcoholic. Teens who start drinking before the age of 15 are about 50 percent more likely to become alcoholics as adults than teens who wait until 18 or older to start drinking (Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research, December 2008).

4. Having a Mental Illness

Having a mental illness, such as bipolar disorder, depression, PTSD or an anxiety disorder, greatly increases the risks of developing alcoholism or other addictions. People with a mental health disorder may self-medicate with drugs or alcohol or may drink out of a loss of inhibition.
 
5. Suffering Abuse or Trauma as a Child

Numerous studies have reported a higher than average incidence rate of childhood trauma in patients undergoing treatment for alcohol or dug addiction, especially among women. Trauma can be physical, emotional or sexual.

6. Having Easy Access to Alcohol

People immersed in societies that do not allow or condone drinking, or in societies that prohibit the sale of alcohol, face very minimal risk of becoming alcoholics. If you can’t buy it, it’s hard to drink it.

7. Having a Family History of Alcoholism

A man that has one alcoholic parent is roughly three times as likely as a man without an alcoholic parent to succumb to the disorder. Women seem less affected by this familial link, though women with at least one alcoholic parent are still at a higher than normal risk of the disease.

8. Being a Man

Men are about twice as likely to experience alcoholism over a lifetime.

9. Certain Personality Types (Personality Characteristics)

The American Psychiatric Association has identified certain personality characteristics that seem to increase a person’s risk of alcoholism. These personality traits include:

• Having a low tolerance for frustration
• Having aggressive tendencies or difficulty with impulse control
• Needing an inordinate amount of praise
• Feeling unsure or not worthy
• Demanding perfection