Alcoholism - Risk Factors

Gender

Most alcoholics are men, but the incidence of alcoholism in women has been increasing over the past 30 years. Studies indicate that 9.3% of men and 1.9% of women are heavy drinkers, and 22.8% of men are binge drinkers compared to 8.7% of women. In general, young women who are problem drinkers follow the drinking patterns of their partners, although they tend to engage in heavier drinking during the premenstrual period.

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Women tend to become alcoholic later in life than men, and it is estimated that 1.8 million older women suffer from alcohol addiction. Even though heavy drinking in women usually occurs later in life, the medical problems women develop because of the disorder occur at about the same age as men, suggesting that women are more susceptible to the physical toxicity of alcohol.

Genetics and Family History

Alcoholism often runs in families. The risk for alcoholism in sons of alcoholic fathers is 25%. The family link is weaker for women, but is still a factor in many cases. Genetics certainly play a role in many people with alcoholism, but negative alcoholic behaviors by the parents can also be significant contributors in the risk for alcoholism in the children. They often play off each other in a perpetuating and tragic spiral. A 2002 study, for example, reported that alcoholic parents have a higher risk for being separated from their children, and such children then face a higher risk for alcoholism in adulthood. (A stable family and psychological health, however, cannot fully protect a person with a genetic risk.) Unfortunately, there is no way to predict which members of alcoholic families are most at risk for alcoholism.

History of Abuse

Individuals who were abused as children have a higher risk for substance abuse later on. In a 2003 study, for example, 72% of women and 27% of men with substance abuse disorders reported physical or sexual abuse or both. They also had worse response to treatment than those without such a history.

Ethnicity

Overall, there is no difference in alcoholic prevalence among African Americans, Caucasians, and Hispanics. Some population groups, however, such as Irish and Native Americans, have an increased incidence of alcoholism while others, such as Jewish and Asian Americans, have a lower risk. Although the biological or cultural causes of such different risks are not known, certain people in these population groups may have a genetic susceptibility or invulnerability to alcoholism because of the way they metabolize alcohol.