Is alcoholism hereditary?

Question

I'm only wondering because my dad was an alcoholic (in AA now) and so was my uncle and my great grandfather.

what are the chances i will be an alcoholic?

Answer 1

I don't know whether it is in the genes or the influence (nature vs nurture) but I think there is a powerful link between parents and their children regarding addiction.

My dad was an alcoholic and smoker, my mother was the classic enabler and an addict in her own right (smoking). My dad's brother was an alcoholic, a workaholic, and a chain smoker. Two of HIS four children have problems with addiction to alcohol and other drugs, and yet their children do not. My two brothers and I all have nicotine addiction, and two of us have had a drinking problem.

I grew up in a family where drugs and alcohol were freely available. Illegal ones not so much out in the open, but I have a lot of marijuana use among my cousins, and God knows what else, I know cocaine? But cigarettes and alcohol, absolutely, and addictive compulsive behavior, depression, eating disorders, very much out in the open.

Still, I think everyone is responsible for their own behavior...and another thing is that having addictions doesn't necessarily mean you are using. I just quit smoking after 18 years! But I'm still chewing nicorette like a mad woman and I am far from in the clear with it. If I had children, I could teach them that just because I have weaknesses, doesn't mean I have to cave in to them.

I ended up with addictions because despite the warnings of my parents, I ended up following them into trouble. Monkey see, monkey do. And maybe our family is genetically benefitted in its later generations by other people marrying in...who will ever know? But the younger parents in my family tree don't seem to have a lot of irresponsible use of anything, they are social or non-drinkers, non-smokers. To be fair, I don't KNOW them very well. But they seem from a distance to be happy well adjusted families who, if there are addictions, they aren't doing a whole lot of damage yet.

Back to your question, I think alcoholism in the family in this day and age, seems to be a big indicator of addictive tendencies. You may not end up being an alcoholic but you probably have weaknesses or things about yourself that are hard to control...work, gambling, sex, drugs, shopping, adrenaline, or other high-risk behavior. Whether we learn this from growing up with alcoholics or whether it is genetic, is really hard to tell.

One thing is for sure, that it is really hard to learn self-discipline from the role modeling of an active using parent. One of my mother's favorite phrases was "I can't help it." Regarding anything...very quick to being defeated by her weaknesses. She died in Dec due to emphysema and heart disease. And "I can't help it" was part of her legacy. She was strong in many ways, including stopping smoking wayyy too late, but regarding her addiction she always took the victim stance.

The chances of you becoming an alcoholic depend a lot on YOU, and I would say that booze is not the only thing you should be careful of. I was so avowed to NOT drinking in my younger years that I walked right into other OCDish tendencies.

If you drink a lot now, I would cut back, or stop and find something else to do with your time, as well as monitoring yourself for other addictive tendencies like shopping, drug use, or leaning on anything excessively, and that means physically and emotionally. How do you deal with stress? Do you have signs of addiction, or depression or anxiety? (Anxiety in particular because it has been shown that a lot of alcoholics unknowingly self-medicate anxiety with alcohol...lowers inhibitions, etc) See how easy it is to disrupt your habits and routines. If your life is functional, you are physically healthy, and your relationships are good...then I would say you are living with whatever was taught to you or whatever is in your DNA.

One thing you have going for you, unlike my parents who gave up their addictions wayyy too late in their lives...is that your dad has also taught you how to STOP drinking.

Answer 2

I definitely do think it is hereditary but the whole society thing is true too. Each individual has a choice to make. They can either drink like a human once in a while or more than that but not too much. Keep drinking as a want and don't let it turn into a need. I have alcoholics in my family and I have to admit I do love to drink and at times I was a little bit out of control, but isn't everyone when they are young. Partying is the only thing I wanted to do. Now I am married and I have a 7 month old son so I havent been bad in a while. I keep it to a minimum.

Answer 3

This is not a fact of life. All of my husbands family were social drinkers to put it kindly. (Yes, they are all alcoholic's, and die from it too). My husband use to drink allot before I met him but does not anymore. His sister and brother do not drink at all. I on the other hand have no drinkers in my family but love to have wine and was at one time pretty close to going overboard with it. I think it depends on the persons state of mind at the time they start drinking. Feeling depressed, lonely, or rejected.

It's all up to you. If you say absolutely not then you most likely will not be. Since you are so worried about it now, I don't think you will ever be an alcoholic. There are better things to do in life then to get relaxed that way.

Answer 4

Yes, to an extent. I don't know what your chances are but it's in your family so just be aware. My father is an alcoholic (he 'dropped out' of AA), compulsive gambler, heavy smoker, has OCD and is a hoarder and has anxiety and clinical depression. I barely knew him and haven't seen him since I was 5 or 6. I'm an alcoholic (AA), heavy smoker, I have ODC and I'm a pack rat (not as bad as hoarding), severe anxiety and clinical depression. I've had so many other problems having to do with keeping a job and wanting to commit suicide just like he did/does.

Answer 5

I can only speak from example. My grandfather and father were alcoholics and it has been a challenge but I've tried to stay away from alcohol. My sisters are not drinkers at all. Women tend not to have the same kind of drive towards alcohol that men do. I don't know if its because it's less "ladylike" to drink or if women's bodies just don't allow for the same kind of consumption.

Answer 6

If someone became an alcoholic before they conceived a child, the alcoholism is in the genes. One child may get the gene while another may not. But there is a greater tendency to pass the point of addiction if you are carrying the gene. My grandfather was an alcoholic after my father was born so all that alcohol in Grandad's bloodstream wasn't being passed on.

Answer 7

I am not sure genetically, but psychologically, you are more likely to abuse alcohol because the people you grew up with did the same. It really depends on when they stopped, like if they were your whole childhood, you are more likely to start drinking early, subconsciously seeing it as "cool" and "good", but by consciously trying not to be an alcoholic, you greatly increase your chances of resisting alcoholism.

Answer 8

Its hard to say my dad is an alcoholic and I have never had a problem with it but you may be more suseptible to alcoholism given that your father is an alcoholic I have noticed that my dad blames his problem on his fathers alcoholism (who he never met he was adopted) but I have never seen any studies to back that theory.

Answer 9

The gene that gives one a tendency to become easily addicted to something is hereditary. Does not mean you can't drink just be aware of it and if you find yourself face down in a puddle of vomit in the back seat of your car on Tuesday afternoon you might want to get help.

Answer 10

Yes, you too are an alcoholic. You might as well get started now and get it over with.