Does finding a "gene" for addictions negate hope for a cure?

Question

I keep seeing these studies that find a gene for this or that problem behavior. It makes me wonder.... Is there any hope of getting out of destructive behavioral patterns if you tell people that it is genetic? Why must we keep shifting the blame? Can't we just deal with the fact that we all have problems and it builds character to overcome our problems?

I've been one of those people with a so-called genetic problem, and I overcame it, and I am so much more happy and better equiped now.

Answer 1

This is related to the old "Nature vs. Nurture" question. Is our behavior determined by our Nature (genetics) or by Nurture (environment)? We have to include self-nurture, i.e. our own choices, under the aspect of Nurture.
In fact, nobody exists without a genetic inheritance, and nobody exists without environment and personal choices.
The fact that somebody may have a genetic predisposition toward addiction does not absolve the person from responsibility. He still makes his own choices. Somebody who can't eat strawberries without breaking out in hives, should learn not to eat strawberries. Somebody who can't have a glass of wine without proceeding to get drunk, should learn not to drink the glass of wine.
Here is a personal example. I always knew that a genetic tendency toward diabetes existed in my family. I knew that I should watch my diet and exercise to prevent diabetes. But what with one thing and another, I didn't, and now I have diabetes, and I have to change some of my behavior patterns, or I will have further problems. On the other hand, there is no genetic tendency to addiction in my family, and I can drink a glass of wine every day without any temptation to abuse alcohol.
You have to adjust your behavior to the genetics you were born with.

Answer 2

Have you ever been to the Human Genome project and looked at the gene map? Complex stuff.

There is no shifting of blame here. Blame lies either in genetics or natural behaviors as a result of social structure. Although you may have overcome some "genetic problem", which I rather doubt, not all people can just overcome a problem. You have to realize that some problems affect people in different ways.

Think of how many serial killers work. A good deal of them suffer from extreme psychological problems brought on through horrid personal experiences. Ed Gein would be a good example. Because of this, some people only can know and understand their problems.

Don't ever forget just how complex humanity is, and that solving problems is not a simple "building of character". For some, their problems only exist because of others, and for others, they don't even really have problems, they are just perceived that way.

Answer 3

Here's a good Poof for Ya! My Father is an Alcoholic, I drank right after him growing up, hitting the bottle for years, doing drugs like marijuanan, acid, mushrooms, snorting Cocaine and then smoking Crack Cocaine in the end one day, I sais to myself screw this,I quit. I haven't drank nor did drugs since and that was 9 years ago. My moral here is that people who get addicted are weakened and need professional help, I did it all on my own because I am storng enough to not letr any drug or drink take control of what I want to do and if everyone in the world had my power... then beer, Liquor and Drug Dealers would go out of business.