The following column was written by Dr. Lida Prypchan, MD, and will be published in June as part of the Wyoming Behavioral Institute’s “Mental Health Matters” series. The views expressed in this column are solely those of Dr. Prypchan and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or ideas of Oil City News or any of its affiliates.
June is Men’s Health Month, a great time to think about summer lifestyle changes that promote mental well-being. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adult men are more likely to binge drink than women. Excessive alcohol consumption is responsible for about 178,000 deaths annually in the United States, and 20,000 people die from alcohol-related cancers each year. The Wyoming Association of Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police reported in 2020 that alcohol played a role in more than half of in-custody arrests in Wyoming. From 2016 to 2019, there were 10,953 alcohol-related hospitalizations in Wyoming, for an average of about 2,700 hospitalizations per year. Heavy alcohol use can lead to cognitive impairment and an increased risk of dementia.
Consuming less alcohol is better for men’s health, but not all men can easily cut back on their drinking. To effectively combat alcohol abuse, it is important to understand the complex causes of alcohol abuse.
Humans naturally seek pleasure and avoid pain. Alcohol is therefore attractive due to its euphoric and anti-anxiety effects. Social beliefs and myths, such as alcohol’s supposed medicinal properties or its ability to increase strength and virility, further encourage drinking. Social pressure also plays a significant role. Communal drinking promotes solidarity, while peer pressure can force people to drink in order to fit in. Advertising and the easy availability of alcohol contribute to its widespread consumption.
Loneliness is also a major factor in alcohol abuse. While alcohol can temporarily relieve loneliness, it perpetuates feelings of isolation. Human connection and companionship are essential in combating loneliness, but alcohol cannot provide this. Stressful life events such as divorce can lead to heavy drinking as a coping mechanism. Bars and social situations provide opportunities to meet new people and relieve loneliness through alcohol consumption.
Alcohol abuse often occurs alongside various mental health disorders. It is important to understand the influence of these disorders on alcohol use and addiction. Post-traumatic stress disorder and social anxiety disorder are linked to alcohol abuse. Depression often causes people to use alcohol as an escape, while people with bipolar disorder use it to amplify manic episodes. People with depression are at higher risk of developing alcohol abuse because they use alcohol as a form of self-medication. Emotional conflict and social failures can cause people to use alcohol as a coping mechanism.
Tolerance is the way the body deals with alcohol. It varies depending on age, gender, genetics, diet, and general health. Alcoholics often develop a tolerance that allows them to consume large amounts without immediate serious consequences. This tolerance can lead to a vicious cycle in which metabolic abnormalities due to the alcohol use disorder increase cravings for alcohol. Some people with substance use disorders also use cannabis, cocaine, or heroin. This use of multiple substances often leads to a more severe dependence, with impulsive and risky behaviors common.
Certain personality traits can predispose individuals to alcohol abuse. From a biological perspective, people with certain body types are thought to be more prone to chronic alcohol abuse. Although the assumption that alcohol abuse is purely hereditary is less accepted today, it is undeniable that it is more common in families with a history of it. This could be due to genetic factors, early exposure, or learned behaviors.
Alcohol abuse is a complex problem influenced by many factors, including desire for pleasure, social pressure, tolerance, personality traits and heredity. Understanding these causes is crucial to effective therapy and combating alcohol abuse at a societal level. Although alcohol is socially accepted, it is a drug whose effects require constant effort to mitigate.
To address alcohol abuse and its connection with loneliness, society must focus on building meaningful connections and supportive environments. By empathizing with one another and creating spaces that help people find comfort without resorting to alcohol, we can address the root causes of alcohol abuse. To address alcohol abuse and its connection with loneliness, society must focus on building meaningful connections and supportive environments.
There are mental health and substance abuse treatment options available in Casper. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 or go to the nearest emergency room. For information about treatment options at the Wyoming Behavioral Institute or to request a free, confidential treatment level assessment, call 800-457-9312.
Dr. Lida Prypchan completed her medical studies at the University of Carabobo in Venezuela, the Universidad Central de Venezuela and the Elmhurst Hospital Center/Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, where she also completed a two-year fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry. Dr. Prypchan’s experience includes working as a research fellow in the areas of schizophrenia, anxiety disorders in children and adolescents, and diagnostic classification systems in psychiatry. More than 200 articles and five books by Dr. Prypchan have been published. She has been awarded the National Award of Scientific Journalism in Valencia, Venezuela three times. Dr. Prypchan has worked as a child and adolescent psychiatrist and adult psychiatrist in inpatient care at WBI for 17 years.
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