A risk factor is anything that increases your likelihood of
getting a disease or condition. It is possible to develop
alcoholism with or without the risk factors listed below.
However, the more risk factors you have, the greater your
likelihood of developing alcoholism. If you have a number of
risk factors, ask your doctor what you can do to reduce your
risk. The following factors can increase your risk of
alcoholism: Alcohol abuse is five times more frequent in men
than in women. Men are more likely to be binge drinkers and
alcoholics than women. However, the incidence of alcoholism in
women has been on the rise in the past 30 years. Women tend to
become alcoholics later in life than men, but the condition has
a faster progression in women. Alcoholism tends to run in
families. This has led researchers to conclude that a genetic
predisposition to developing alcohol abuse problems may exist.
The rate of alcoholism in men with no alcoholic parents is
approximately 11%. For men with one alcoholic parent, the rat