I've always wondered how alcoholism is passed down through generations. I didn't know if it was due to social, family, environmental or genetic factors that caused someone to develop this disease. I think it's obvious that children living with an alcoholic are more likely to become an alcoholic themselves. What if a child wasn't raised in a home with an alcoholic? Does the factor then become genetic?
It seems as though there is a lot of research being done on genes that may cause alcoholism. Evidence is growing, showing that there is a genetic component to this disease but the gene itself has yet to be identified. There is an association between the A1 allele of the DRD2 gene and alcoholism. Studies are being done on adopted children with biological parents with alcoholism and researchers are monitoring them to see if they develop the disease too. The same studies are being done on twins with biological parents that are alcoholics.
Personally, I don't see how alcoholism can be passed down from generation to generation. I believe that it is a social, environmental and family related illness. I think if someone is surrounded by alcohol and alcoholics, they are more than likely to become an alcoholic as well. Until science can prove alcoholism is heredity, I will believe otherwise.
Kelsie Raines
Source:
http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/genetics/a/aa990517.htm
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