Who Does Alcoholism Affect?

Alcoholism can affect anyone, no matter gender, sex, race, age or class.

Alcoholism doesn’t discriminate and can impact every part of your life, from relationships, your health and your future aspirations.

Alcoholism is a disease that can affect everyone, not just the person who is addicted, leaving lasting effects on families, friends and work colleagues.

Entire communities can be shifted due to the impact of alcoholism. The misconception is that one can not be an alcoholic unless one fits into a stereotype.

However, many communities of people are at risk of turning to alcohol.

1. Alcoholism at University

Many see going off to university as a time to party and drink socially with peers. However, studies have shown that students are at risk of alcohol addiction.

Over 88% of students reported they had consumed alcohol throughout their lifetime, with the average starting age around 14.

Over half (58.7%) of students who responded to the study confessed they had been drinking between the ages of 11 and 15, and a further 11.3% said they drank from the age of 10. [1]

There is a significant correlation between declining academic performance and alcohol consumption.

At the same time, many use alcohol to curb the stress of university life, even though it causes a rise in absences from class and the loss of abilities.

Excessive alcohol consumption in university can also lead to a higher chance of contracting STDs and experiencing mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, mood swings and irritability.

Alcohol addiction at university also strains social and familial relationships, adding further stress to the experience.

Therefore, universities have systems where you will be educated on alcohol consumption and prevention strategies on-site to ensure the safety of their students.

At Rehab 4 Alcoholism, we offer free advice from a team of non-judgemental professionals, many of whom are in recovery and understand how hard can be to change your relationship with addiction.
For more information about who alcoholism affects, simply reach out to our 24/7, confidential hotline on 0800 111 4108.

2. Alcoholism In Pregnancy & Post-Partum Depression

The Chief Medical Officers for the UK recommend that you resist drinking if you are pregnant due to the lasting effects it can have on the unborn child.

The more you drink, the greater risk of foetal alcohol syndrome. [2]

Women who suffer from alcoholism may struggle with this, causing complications in pregnancy and leading to harm to the baby.

The baby’s liver is one of the last organs to develop and does not mature until the late stages of the pregnancy.

Everything the mother consumes is passed to the baby. Therefore, alcohol exposure can seriously affect their development.

Drinking during pregnancy can increase the risk of miscarriage, premature birth and irreversible effects after the birth.

Postpartum depression is more common among mothers, with many turning to alcohol to self-medicate their symptoms.

This can lead to the worsening of depressive symptoms and her ability to connect with the child emotionally.

In severe cases, this could potentially lead to situations where the baby is neglected or abused. [3]

Breastfeeding your baby while drinking alcohol can also harm the child.

Alcohol can be passed through the breastmilk and cause distress, growth issues and developmental delays.

3. Alcoholism and Professionals

Stress can be a significant indicator of why people turn to alcohol.

Alcoholism among professionals can manifest in many ways, including absenteeism, accidents on the job and fractured relationships with patients and clients.

Professionals that have shown to be most at risk include lawyers, medical professionals, construction workers, educational services, and the arts and entertainment industry. [4]

Alcoholism can cause the afflicted to:

Miss deadlines
Produce careless or sloppy work
Make consistent mistakes
Faulty analysis
Ongoing excuses for incomplete assignments

Employers will understand that alcohol addiction is a disease that requires support; however, in severe circumstances, you or your loved one may lose your job as a consequence of your behaviour.

4. Alcoholism and Retirement

Retirement can be a significant life moment, leading to stress and boredom. However, not all those who retire are at risk of developing alcohol addiction.

Studies have shown that older people who are divorced, separated, widowed, or single are at a higher risk.

Alcoholism and old age can increase the risk of hospital admissions, emergency room visits and severe health problems like:

Liver disease
Kidney disease
Heart disease
Depression
Anxiety
Dementia

In the UK, 17% of men over 65 drank over the weekly guideline.

However, this number may be underestimated as many symptoms of alcoholism can be confused with old age. [5]

At Rehab 4 Alcoholism, we offer free advice from a team of non-judgemental professionals, many of whom are in recovery and understand how hard can be to change your relationship with addiction.
For more information about who alcoholism affects, simply reach out to our 24/7, confidential hotline on 0800 111 4108.

5. Alcoholism and Young People

Underage drinking is an unfortunate part of society, leading to developmental issues, injury and potential death. According to a study, more than 90% of alcohol consumed by adolescents is through binge drinking. [6]

It was reported that adolescent girls are more at risk of underage drinking. There are many products of underage drinking that young people typically ignore:

Inhibiting brain development – Research shows that the brain doesn’t fully develop until your mid-twenties. Excessive alcohol consumption may lead to cognitive and learning problems and increase the likelihood of an alcohol problem later in life.
Impairment in judgement – Underage drinking can lead to poor decision-making, including risk-taking behaviour, aggression, and unsafe sexual behaviour.
Gateways to other substances – Alcohol consumption can lead to young people choosing to take further narcotics
Death – This can include alcohol poisoning, drunk driving, homicide and suicide.

Teaching young people about the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption is necessary so they know if dependency symptoms begin to arise.

6. Alcoholism and The LGBTQ Community

Even though we have seen significant improvements in the lives of those within the LGBTQ community, they continue to face societal issues regarding stigma, discrimination and hate crimes.

Alcohol is a standard part of the community as PRIDE festivals can be saturated in alcohol consumption.

However, many use the substance to self-medicate if they are experiencing a tough time.

Studies have shown that lesbian, gay and bisexual adults are more likely to engage in alcohol than their heterosexual counterparts.

Alcoholism tends to be an issue alongside co-occurring illnesses like depression and anxiety.

Those in the LGBTQ community are also at a higher risk of self-harm and suicide.

At Rehab 4 Alcoholism, we offer free advice from a team of non-judgemental professionals, many of whom are in recovery and understand how hard can be to change your relationship with addiction.
For more information about who alcoholism affects, simply reach out to our 24/7, confidential hotline on 0800 111 4108.

7. Alcoholism and Homelessness

Alcoholism can be both a cause and a result of homelessness.

Addictive disorders tend to be destructive, leading many to struggle to pay bills, lose public housing and destroy interpersonal relationships.

A study showed that over 80% of homeless people struggle with substance abuse.

This is due to their unstable environment, meaning they turn to substances to soothe their troubling circumstances and disturbing emotions.

It was reported by the same study that the average life expectancy of a young homeless person is 11 years, with those suffering from a substance addiction having a higher risk of premature death. [7]

For many, the motivation to tackle their addiction may be low, as survival is more important than spiritual and personal growth.

Homeless people also face other challenges as they may not have a family or support network and may have uninhibited access to their substance of choice.

The homeless also struggle with co-occurring mental health issues and are at a higher risk of violence, victimisation, and frequent transience.

8. Alcoholism and Poor Communities

Alcoholism has proven to be prevalent in poorer areas of the country.

This can be due to several factors, including limited employment opportunities, social cohesion and a rise in crime.

These highly stressful environments can lead to people self-medicating with alcohol.

The ‘harm paradox’ is that those living in poorer communities tend to drink less compared to wealthy areas; however, disadvantaged people will visit emergency services for alcohol-related incidents more than others.

Researchers have suggested many reasons for this paradox, including the general low health of those in poor communities, concerning diet and general fitness.

They also discovered a higher saturation of shops selling cheap alcohol in these areas. [8]

Deprived areas also struggle to access local drug and alcohol services and cannot afford treatment for severe alcohol addiction cases.

At Rehab 4 Alcoholism, we offer free advice from a team of non-judgemental professionals, many of whom are in recovery and understand how hard can be to change your relationship with addiction.
For more information about who alcoholism affects, simply reach out to our 24/7, confidential hotline on 0800 111 4108.

Finding Treatment for Alcoholism

Alcoholism is an unfortunate part of today’s society and can affect anybody.

Nevertheless, help is available to those who need it; you can visit your GP, who will be able to point you in the direction of drug and alcohol services which can begin to facilitate your recovery.

Both inpatient and outpatient rehabs are available nationwide, where you can receive bespoke treatment to understand the root of your alcohol addiction and begin to learn healthy coping mechanisms you can use in your everyday life.

Alcoholics Anonymous and other self-help support groups have been helping people maintain sobriety for decades.

They work based on spirituality and abstinence and help teach you to live an alcohol-free life.

At Rehab 4 Alcoholism, we offer free advice from a team of non-judgemental professionals, many of whom are in recovery and understand how hard can be to change your relationship with addiction.
For more information about who alcoholism affects, simply reach out to our 24/7, confidential hotline on 0800 111 4108.