Alcoholism.

[micmak]

Do you think alcoholism is or can be heredity? Every where I look the answer appears to be no. Yet two of my relatives were alki's. One died 'the doc said' through the brain shutting down, the other in the pool whilst drunk. Any thoughts?

[scotman]

I believe that there is a hereditary element in some alcoholism. Obviously some will also be random.

[welshlibranr]

could be mik, my uncle was a heavy drinker, as was his father, on the other hand, my father, son and brother of the above, never drank at all!.......maybe some siblings inherit this gene, and some don't!...........

[Mick-Talbot]

no

[micmak]

I agree with all you say, but everywhere I look It says Alcoholism is NOT heredity.

[Mick-Talbot]

is being a smoker hereditary?

[welshlibranr]

smoking is not!......but I think that some folk are more likely to be addictive!....and it is an addiction!...........

[scotman]

I don't know how much it applies specifically to alcoholism but there is research into hereditary addictive behaviour.

http://www.google.co....cial&client=firefox-a

[micmak]

Mick and Doc, I take both your points, but I like a drink and a smoke. My point is, if there is a gene that makes some people get certain diseases, is there also one that makes people become alki's.

[tamborine]

Not hereditary but could be due to upbringing, ie my alcoholic MIL recommended I put whisky in babies bottles & get them to sleep - I ignored the old bat.

[micmak]

Tambo, My EX mil suggested brandy I also ignored her.

[woofgang]

doc, being an alcoholic is not in any way shape or form a personal choice. Its lnot the same as liking a drink and having too much.

[Sqad]

By "hereditary" if you mean genetically transmitted, then the answer is no, it isn't.

However there are plenty of studies that show that the children of smokers and or drinkers have a higher incidence of problems with smoking and alcohol abuse.

[WELSHYORKIE]

I would agree with what Sqad posted. My dad drank to excess, as did I until I saw the light but I have also experience of another family where the father drank heavily and died of liver disease, and now some of the kids have a drink problem (though they won't admit it). Maybe they are just binge drinkers who don't know where to stop but as docspock said it must be a fine line between wanting and needing

[DrFilth]

if you see your parents drink a lot i think it rubs off on to the kids