Is alcoholism a disease?
Alcohol use disorder is a disease of the brain. Over-consumption literally changes brain chemistry, and as tolerance to alcohol increases, the person must use more and more to feel the same effects, further damaging both the body and brain. Those who are dependent on alcohol seem to drink at the expense of essentially everything and everyone around them – even the people they love dearly.
Addiction shares the following characteristics with other chronic diseases, like heart disease or diabetes.
- A tendency to run in the family
- Influenced by environmental conditions and behaviors
- The ability to respond to appropriate treatment
Many people wonder: What causes alcoholism? Addiction is physiological, psychological, and can be all-encompassing. And its broader impact can take devastating toll on family life as well.
