Alcoholism: Is It Learned or Hereditary?

Alcoholism is considered a disease. The characteristics of alcoholism are a consistent desire for alcohol, withdrawals when alcohol cannot be consumed, an inability to control drinking and an increased tolerance in relation to the effects of alcohol. Alcoholism is caused by both heredity and the environment, although neither of these factors assures that a person will become an alcoholic.

Genetics

• Medical News Today reports that two types of genes have been studied that have demonstrated that there is a genetic link to alcoholism. The genes are the DRD2 and those genes in the DRD2 region. Medical News Today further reports that much of the research associated with genes and alcoholism, however, has been inconsistent because of the general research concentration on only the DRD2 gene, without focus on the surrounding genes associated with DRD2. Nevertheless, in order for the genes to become active they must be exposed to environmental triggers.

Environment

• Environment plays a significant role in alcoholism. Those with the genes for alcoholism are susceptible to elements within their environment that will essentially awaken those genes and begin alcoholism in the individual's life. Elements such as living in an environment where one or more people consistently drink alcohol, or living in an environment that is stress-filled, may prompt the individual to begin drinking. However, individuals that do not possess the genetic background for alcoholism may also be impacted by these environmental factors and ultimately turn to alcohol as a means of coping with their lives.

Parents

• Parents of alcoholics may or may not carry the gene for alcoholism and pass that gene to their children. Nevertheless, if the parent or parents of a child abuses alcohol or other substances, they are exposing the child to alcohol, and therefore teaching a learned behavior that may be passed down to the child. This is because as a child develops he mimics the behaviors of trusted adults in his life. When that child consistently witnesses a parent drinking alcohol, that child will often learn to believe that the behavior is acceptable and parrot the behavior pattern. In addition, mothers who drink alcohol when they are pregnant run the risk of delivering babies that are already addicted to alcohol, or that have birth defects associated with alcohol, such as in Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS).

Heredity

• Alcoholism has been shown to be hereditary in many families. Yet, not all families that have a history of alcoholism have the genes for alcoholics. Nor does a history of alcoholism in a family guarantee that all members will eventually become alcoholics. A family history of alcoholism may very well begin with an individual in the family who has had no exposure to alcoholism whatsoever.

Alcoholism Within the Population

• MedicineNet.com explains that because alcoholism is attributed to both heredity and learned behavior, it is important to understand which societal groups are most impacted by alcoholism. In the U.S. there are approximately 17 million people who are alcoholics, and men are more likely to be alcoholics than women. The population with the greatest number of alcohol abusers is between the ages of 18 to 29, while those over the age of 65 are the least likely to abuse alcohol. Finally, the younger that an individual starts to drink alcohol, the more likely she is to become an alcoholic.