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Alcoholism

Who is susceptible and why?


Bio/Psycho/Social Model

 1) Individual who responds to alcohol in


a certain way. Positive reward.
 2) Personality characteristics that
encourage use. Impulsiveness.
 3) Member of social group where
– A) pressure to drink. College Fraternity.
– B) confusion over drinking ground rules.
Drink with meals or drink to get drunk?
Physiological factors

 Biological susceptibility
 Genetic evidence
 Family history
 Children of alcoholics (COA)
 If father alcoholic,
 25% sons affected
 5-10% of daughters
Genetic evidence

 Twin studies
 MZ 100% genes
 DZ 50% genes
 Reared together
 Alcoholism in
 55% MZ twins
 28% DZ twins
Adoption studies

 Original studies done in


Denmark and Sweden.
 Child adopted out.
 Father alcoholic:
 18% sons affected.
 Father non-alcoholic:
 5% sons affected.
 Daughters less affected.
Males particularly susceptible

 Male limited. TYPE II alcoholism.


 More severe, early onset.
 Many negative consequences.
 Trouble with law, at school, on job.
 Environment plays less of a role but can
lessen the severity.
 Adopted COA’s did better than those
raised with alcoholic parent.
Milieu limited. TYPE 1
 All women and 75% of men.
 Less severe, later onset.
 May not be treated.
 Personality factors important.
– Reward seekers. Psych dependence.
 Environment plays key role.
 Family and social groups.
 Intoxication as recreation.
 Good time depends on drinking.
What is inherited?
 High initial tolerance.
 Different rate of metabolism.
 Alcohol -> acetaldehyde ->
acetate -> CO2 and H20
 COA’s higher levels of
acetaldehyde.
 Metabolize alcohol quicker.
 Hence higher tolerance
Acetaldehyde effects

 Acetaldehyde may
combine with brain
chemicals to give
opiate-like high
 Acetaldehyde also
toxic to liver and
heart.
 Medical complications
Brain response to novelty

 Brain waves to novel


stimuli.
 P3 waves.
 Less reaction in
alcoholics.
 And in COA’s before
start drinking.
 Need more stimulation?
Psychological characteristics

 Related to biology?
 Reward seeking.
 Impulsive.
 Easily bored.
 Risk takers
 Gregarious
 Push the limits
 Act out
Social factors

 Alcoholism high in
some cultures:
Americans, Swiss,
Irish, Poles.
Low in others:
Chinese, Greeks,
Orthodox Jews
Alcoholism is low in cultures where
 Children learn alcohol
is a beverage.
 Served in dilute forms.
 Abstain okay.
 Parents model
moderate drinking
 Getting drunk not seen
as comical.
 Everyone knows
ground rules.
Alcoholism is higher in cultures where

 No ground rules.
 Mixed messages from different
individuals and groups.
Getting drunk okay? Funny?
 Heavy drinking is encouraged.
 Drinking a sign of masculinity or
adulthood.
Media images of alcohol

 Ireland has highest


heavy drinking rates
in Europe.
 Youth bombarded
with alcohol ads.
 Have begun to
restrict advertising.
 Change the culture.

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