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Alcoholism

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.

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Alcoholism

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  1. Alcoholism Who is susceptible and why?

  2. 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?

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

  4. Genetic evidence • Twin studies • MZ 100% genes • DZ 50% genes • Reared together • Alcoholism in • 55% MZ twins • 28% DZ twins

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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

  9. Acetaldehyde effects • Acetaldehyde may combine with brain chemicals to give opiate-like high • Acetaldehyde also toxic to liver and heart. • Medical complications

  10. 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?

  11. Psychological characteristics • Related to biology? • Reward seeking. • Impulsive. • Easily bored. • Risk takers • Gregarious • Push the limits • Act out

  12. Social factors • Alcoholism high in some cultures: Americans, Swiss, Irish, Poles. Low in others: Chinese, Greeks, Orthodox Jews

  13. 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.

  14. 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.

  15. 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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