How Long Does It Take to Get Addicted to Alcohol?
The path to alcohol addiction is long. It is a process that is determined by many factors. The journey starts with just a sip and ends with one becoming an addict. This topic is of great importance because many people have someone they know or relate to who is an addict. Some even are addict themselves. If you are in such a situation, this blog will be of great help to you.
This article will share various contributory factors to alcohol addiction, the effects and how to prevent yourself from being an addict.
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Factors Contributing to Use of Alcohol
1. Peer pressure
When you walk with friends who use alcohol, there is a high chance you will start using. This is because you also want to fit into the social unit and earn their trust and loyalty. You want to make them happy and the only way is to do what they do. By drinking like they do, you are strengthening the bond of friendship. Peer influence is a big contributing factor to one being an alcoholic.
2. Environment
The environment you are in also determines if you will use alcohol or not. Some people live in places where alcohol is easily accessible. This makes it easier for them to get it anytime they want. Your proximity to alcohol production or selling sites will greatly determine if you will use it.
3. Family upbringing
How one is brought up will determine their perspective about alcohol use. The people from affluent backgrounds are more likely to use alcohol than those from the lowest point in the pyramid. This is because rich families have the financial muscle and see alcohol as one way of entertainment. But in a poor family they lack finances and also the parents mostly teach their children about the side effects of alcohol use.
4. Cultural factors
Some cultures accept alcohol as part of their norms. The alcohol maybe taken during major cultural celebrations and everyone is allowed to partake of it, there is no age restrictions. The problem with this is that people of young age having tasted alcohol will continue later even when the celebrations have ended. They may do this secretly but with time they will come out of the closet when things have gotten out of hand.
5. Stress
Every person manages stress in a different way. Some read a book, some cry, others listen to music or dance while some talk to someone. Yet others see taking alcohol as an easy escape for when they take alcohol, they will forget about their problems. However, the problems will still be there when they sober up and they will resort to using alcohol again. This will be a continuous cycle which will lead to addiction.
6. Financial state
Having a well paying job means being well financially. Many don’t really know how to use all that money without setting something aside for entertainment. The entertainment in this context is alcohol because of workmates who also are stable financially. They will want to savor the taste of the best joints in the neighborhood.
7. Religious influence
Some religions don’t restrict the use of alcohol while others do. So when a person is deeply religious, he can either refuse or accept to use alcohol. Religion influences the beliefs of an individual and as such will have a great bearing on the decision the person will take regarding alcohol use.
8. Personal decisions
Alcohol use cannot be only peer pressure or family influence. It cannot be financial strength or religious influence only. Sometimes it is just a personal choice. Some people will just decide to take alcohol because they want to know how it tastes. Others will take because they want to see how it will make them behave.
9. Traumatic experience
Past traumatic experiences can make a person want to take alcohol to escape thinking about them. When the pain of that experience comes back they want to forget it as soon as possible. The person will take alcohol to escape the painful memories of the past. So they will use alcohol to actually numb the pain.
10. Low self esteem
Some people can have a low opinion of themselves. They will see themselves as not worthy to fit into any social circle and will isolate themselves. They are lone rangers who can lock themselves inside the house for hours because they fear the crowds and what others think about them. Their only companion is alcohol, when they take it they feel happy.
Effects of Alcohol Addiction
1. Financial burden
Alcoholism drains the finances no matter how well off a person is. It becomes a burden to the family when the addict is the breadwinner because he will not have time to provide the basic needs because the money will be going to alcohol. In many families, alcohol use has killed a lot of goals which require financial aid to fulfill.
2. Unhealthy relationships
An alcoholic person will have a difficult time building a relationship let alone maintaining one. Their time oscillates between their friends who are users and their drinking and will have no time for other people. Because of alcohol addiction, the family ties become strained and relationship with friends become unhealthy. The person will only care about himself and no one else, except his drinking buddies.
3. Loss of goals and dreams
Due to addiction, there is no time for the person to actually pursue his dreams and goals. Alcohol addiction makes a person not to be futuristic but to work on short term goals only. This has a negative effect on the long term goals and more so when the old age sets in. The person will have no means to sustain themselves during old age because they misused their productive years.
4. Non performance at workplace
Every workplace has targets and timelines and they are all measurable. But when one becomes an alcoholic, they will not think about this. Being an addict will lead to non performance at the work place because of lateness and lack of focus. The person will go to work inebriated and forget about how a task is performed or miss out on the process and this leads to disastrous results.
5. Health problems
People who have been using alcohol for longer periods have been affected both physically and mentally. The person becomes weak because as one gets addicted to alcohol, they will not be thinking about having a meal and can go for longer periods without it. This weakens their physical strength. Also relying on alcohol to manage stress will greatly affect the mental wellbeing of a person. They will be taking alcohol whenever anxiety or a problem sets in, but they will not be actually resolving but just postponing it.
6. Social isolation
Being an addict leads to lack of social grace because many people will run away from those who like alcohol more. Family and friends will not like to be associated with an addict.
Prevention of Alcohol Addiction
1. Awareness on dangers of alcoholism
Sensitizing the society on the negative impacts of alcohol will greatly reduce the use of alcohol. Create awareness through workshops and seminars and do not shy away from telling people the truth about the dangers of being an addict.
2. Stress management skills
Learn to manage stress without resorting to use of alcohol. This is because alcohol only makes you forget the problem for a short period of time, when you sober up the problem will still be staring at you. Being a short lived relief, it is an unworthy road to walk.
3. Professional help
When you feel that you are becoming an addict, it is good to seek rehabilitation services from a professional.
4. Accepting to get help
When things get out of hand do not fear to seek help. A strong person is the one who knows that they cannot make it alone and they need others.
5. Environment change for the addicts
Limit accessibility to alcohol and if possible change the environment so as to avoid familiar places which will remind you of olden days when you used to take alcohol.
Conclusion
Alcoholism is a process with many luring factors which if unchecked lead to a perilous ending. Many have resorted to alcohol to numb painful memories or escape the challenges of life. Also family standing in the society has greatly influenced in this trait. But it is preventable because signs are there and if one is keen will be able to notice them and make interventions early.
Thus with the negative impacts that alcohol has in the society, it is vital to prevent addiction by limiting access to alcohol and advocating for responsible drinking. Sensitizing people on alternative ways of managing stress and accepting to seek help when the problem gets out of hand are ways of prevention. Alcohol addiction is preventable but if not checked early its effects will be felt for ages.
The society should have a stand and create channels of prevention. Also not look down on those who have been affected by addiction but be emphatic towards them. Helping the addicts and assuring them that they are still valued will make them find it easy to seek help when they feel they are not okay.