Exploring Alcohol Use Assignment

Exploring Alcohol UseHayley Grace PartridgeBaker College OnlinePSY2250- Psychology of Drug Use and AddictionDr. Gwen ZegestowskyJanuary 15th, 2023Alcoholism, also known as Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), is a serious medical condition defined as an inability to stop or control the use of alcohol despite negative social, occupational, or health consequences (National institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2020). Alcohol use disorder can range from mild to severe. There are many different factors that contribute to alcoholism.The first factor is biological. The structure of our genetics is what determines our traits, and these genes are passed down to us by our parents. Which is why alcoholism has been known to run in families. Heritability is about 60 percent responsible for the development of a substance use disorder (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2020). A person who is genetically predisposed to Alcoholism is at a higher risk of developing alcoholism or other substance use disorders (Juergens, 2015). There is no single “alcohol gene” responsible for the development of a substance use disorder. Each person has hundreds of genetics in their DNA that can