The Facts Explained: Is Alcoholism Genetic?
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Is alcoholism hereditary? Many scientists claim that there is cause to believe that it’s possible. Though science has never been able to pinpoint the exact gene that has been said to cause hereditary alcoholism, statistics reveal that children of alcoholics are four times more likely to become alcoholics than other children, who weren’t brought up in an alcoholic environment. Isn't it possible that these children have experienced learned behaviour and that they act on it when they grow up?
According to these same authorities, the location where the child was brought up is also a huge factor that influences these astonishing numbers. Both theories are currently balanced, with neither truly answering the question, is alcoholism hereditary? If addiction and uninhibited behaviour are genetic traits that run in families, then why do some children still turn out fine, and can drink responsibly like everyone else? It all comes down to the intricacies and inadequacies of science.
Behaviour is still a largely unfamiliar division of science, but trials have confirmed that there is a ‘streak’ in families that might be the addict gene. Some persons are more susceptible to addictive behaviours than others, so it's reasonable to conclude that it could be a result of their base natures. The most powerful scientific combination is the person who has a parent who is an alcoholic and who also has an addictive personality. In some circumstances, children will be born without an addictive personality, in which case they are not very likely to end up as alcoholics.
Is Alcohol Addiction hereditary? There is enough evidence to suggest it is, but not enough to say for sure. The outcome is that just because you have a parent who is an alcoholic, doesn’t mean you will definitely follow in their path. The threat could be higher for you as a result of your genetic code, but the choice can still be yours. Just as your parent had the option once to continue drinking to a point when they developed a physical and mental addiction, that time may come for you.
A decade ago scientists thought they had finally discovered the answer to the question, is alcoholism genetic? If there is a genetic factor, it can be influenced, perhaps removed from children before they have to deal with its attraction. This inheritable factor was called the DRD2 gene, but it was only slightly related to alcoholic inclinations in people. Scientists claimed that this gene was the one that made the effects of alcohol attractive to certain people that possessed it. However, the addiction gene still needs a lot of study before any suppositions can be made about it.
People are continually trying to find reasons for why they behave the way that they do. Whether they grow up in damaging alcoholic environments or are born with a specific inheritable factor that urges them into being addicted to alcohol, there is always a choice. If you know that you have a history of alcoholism in your family, monitor your drinking and make sure it never gets out of hand. There is an answer to the question, is alcohol addiction hereditary? We won’t know it for some time, but until then make the decision to drink within reason or not at all.
For more information, visit Addictions UK - Addiction Recovery
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