Do you believe addiction is genetic?

Question

My dads side has a history of alcohol abuse, they say it's genetic..... because my father had that addiction ...does it make me more vulnerable to ANY type of mood altering substance? or JUST alcohol.

Of course social factors etc have to do with substance abuse too and it's not purely genetics.

Before someone says this q is in the wrong section, I asked it in health and no one answered. AND you p and sers are very wise and helpful :)

I have a very addictive personality, but I guess because I'm aware of it I know that I have to be careful. I've never tried any hard drugs because i'm scared i'll get addicted

Rachaels congrats on giving up and good luck!!! and your answer is a perfect example

Scorpio woman, i'm glad your child is with you, but what I think is because of the addictive gene, when he's old enough to drink - he may get addicted. Around you he most probably won't drink under age - but when he is of legal age he may have a problem. I really really hope not. Thank you for taking him away from the drinking though

Answer 1

yes it is. i am adopted and raised in a mellow, non drinking, no drugs or any other issue family. they are stable, quiet country folks.
i was and am, loud, outgoing, wild and have had my serious problems with drugs and alcohol. i was a raging drunk for years, i have it in check now, but it wouldnt take much for me to go back to it.

i found my birthmother about 7 years ago, the second sentence out of her mouth was "we're all drunks. most of the family is alcoholics and lots of drug abuse."

addiction is genetic, i had no influence in my life to show me this path, but it came very easy to me.

Answer 2

I believe that will happen if you believe enough that it will. and I'll tell you why I believe this is true. My dad is a recovered alcoholic. I did not meet him until 3 years ago, therefore I did not know he was an alcoholic. I drank on and off (mostly off) for years. I have not drank any alcohol in about 5 years. I never had a problem at all. Now, here's the clincher. would I have had more of a problem if my father had been in my life and I had known that he was an alcoholic considering that it is shoved down our throats that it is genetic. I believe that ideas can be put in our heads just like this one and make us feel more afraid. It is ultimately up to you whether you have an addiction or not.

Answer 3

I am a recovering addict who comes from a long genetic line of addicts, both paternally and maternally. I got clean years before having kids, yet they are already displaying some personality traits common to addicts.

Sure, the argument of "nature vs. nurture" will always rear its head into these discussions. However, given that my kids have never been exposed to non-recovering addicts, this point is rendered moot. My personal experience with 3 generations of my family currently in recovery is that addiction has an undeniable genetic basis.

What no one has addressed here is that addiction is not only psychological. It's physical, too. True addicts actually have an allergy to the substance(s) to which they are addicted. It's a vicious cycle in which the physical allergy creates both pleasure and pain. The pleasure come from the flood of the allergen(s) upon the brain's dopamine receptors. At the same time the physical allergy takes its toll, yet the body craves the allergen and will seek satisfaction of this craving at all costs.

An addictive PERSONALITY manifests as both a pleasure seeking and pain avoidance OCD in relation to the stimulus. If it's not a true physical allergy, this type of addiction remains psychological only.

Answer 4

Having never looked at any research or having any expert knowledge other than observing throughout my entire life, I would say definitely YES.

I look at my family and it seems like everyone who has chosen to try drinking has abused it. Many of them have taken it a step further and have been in rehab or jail for drugs.

I also look at my wife's side of the family and same thing. . I think some chemical in our body is either prone to addiction or not and it may vary from one family to drugs, alcohol or other addictions.

Is it possible that I am getting addicted to Answers on Yahoo? Anyone else out there feel this addiction?

Answer 5

I think it is genetic, it's also the influence.. etc.

Do you have an addictive personality? Thats a factor to watch out for. If you have one then just stay away from alcohol. I definitely have an addictive personality.. if I picked up a drink and thought it was ok I'd probably become an alcoholic. It's why I don't drink..

Answer 6

I do think alcoholism is genetic. One of my friends has alcoholism in her family and she started talking one day about this glowing happy feeling she gets in her tummy when she drinks. Everyone with us (including me) was like what the heck are you talking about? So, I know for sure she has something genetic going on, but she's very careful with her alcohol consumption since she knows alcoholism runs in her family.

You probably will be more likely to get hooked on other mood altering substances, too, because the concentrations of neurotransmitters and stuff we have which promote addiction are genetic, but I don't know which things you would be more succeptible to.

Answer 7

http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/genetics/a/aa990517.htm

Yes, and no. It is a touchy issue right now. Say for an example, your biological mother and father are/were alcoholic/substance abusers. Then at birth they gave you up for adoption to Non-alcoholic/substance abuser adoptive parents. More than likely you will not become an alcoholic with the non alcoholic parents.

With my situation, I don't do drugs and I very rarely drink alcohol, however my ex was a heavy drinker and a substance abuser. My child is safer with me because I don't do do drugs and I never drink alcohol in front of him or around him.

I don't need a drink to keep me calm, I don't need a drink to escape from realities. I have one once in awhile to go out to the pub with my friends for a few hours and we all have a good time.

An alcoholic is someone that needs a drink. I don't need nor want a drink. It doesn't bother me if I don't have any alcohol.

Do you kind of understand where I am comming from?

Check out the link I posted on here. Like I said it is kind of a touchy subject. It is mostly what the child sees and grows up with. I have been a single mom for 4 years of my son's life. My son doesn't remember his father drinking. But my ex was an alcoholic and Drug addict for most of his life and it passes down to generations....Hard to really explain, unless you are an expert...

Answer 8

Its genetic whether or not it will affect you, like if yoUr dad was an abusive drinker and you had a few drinks ur more likely to become an alcoholic than a person who's family doesn't have a past of alcohol addiction

Answer 9

I think it can be..basically everyone in my family has had a problem with alcohol, drugs, or some type of addiction..but I'm not an alcoholic or anything..so yes it can be genetic, but that doesn't mean it's a certainty that you'll become an alcoholic, because your life is what you make of it.

Answer 10

I think there is a genetic component to any addiction.
Alcoholism certainly runs in families.
If you feel that you have an addictive personality, it could certainly make you more aware and cautious in using any mind or mood altering substances.

Answer 11

I think you would have a genetic predisposition to the addiction, yes, but you have to realize that now before you become an addict and stay away from the substance. I also come from a long line of boozers and I made a conscious decision to stay away from it, period. My brother, on the other hand, drinks 12-14 beers a day.