What is Happening to my Parent?

There are many theories around what causes and maintains a drinking problem. many of these theories can overlap with each other, since after all, problem drinking is very complex. A running model used today is called the bio-psycho-social-spiritual model, that combines the theories below.

Biological theory

Alcohol temporarily activates a “feel good” sensation in our brains. As a result, a person feels terrific (smarter, better looking, more popular, a better parent, etc.). The person may then use alcohol again to try and get that same feeling. Over time, the brain craves that feeling, which can either create a habit or dependence in the person. In the long run, alcohol acts as a depressant, which makes a person feel down and low. Heavy drinking can also change our brain chemistry, which can lead to depression and anxiety, which may then lead to drinking alcohol as a way of coping with the sadness or worries.

behavioural theory

Learning has a lot to do with developing an alcohol problem. If a person gets rewarded for acting a certain way, they will continue to act that way in the future (like if you get money for doing chores, you will probably do more chores). If a person drinks heavily and gets positive feedback from others (laughter, praise, or encouragement) the person will likely continue to drink heavily. These rewards may be more powerful than the negative consequences such as hangovers or family problems. Habits also can form. Over time, people learn to associate drinking with certain situations or feelings, which can be hard to break down the road.

Disease theory

This theory states that a person has an incurable disease, like diabetes, that takes away the person’s control over drinking. When the person first drinks alcohol, it activates the disease, which then leads the person to drink in an unhealthy way. The effects of the disease only stop if the person quits drinking, but this is hard to do alone.

Social theory

Social and cultural factors can play a role in developing and maintaining a drinking problem. For example, peer pressure or attitudes from parents around alcohol can influence a person’s drinking habits. Also, different cultures have different attitudes towards drinking; for example, in North America binge drinking is accepted by society making it more common for people to drink heavily. In many Muslim countries however, drinking alcohol is prohibited and therefore very few people drink.