Alcoholism Hereditary?

[Smowball]

I was speaking to a friend earlier and she's convinced it is. Her dad died of alcoholism and her brother is an alcoholic, and she's already worried she could head that way in the future. Is there any truth in it at all?

[woofgang]

The answer seems to be maybe......The other consideration is that people who have had a difficult upbringing are more likely to become substance abusers, also children of substance abusers are more likely to be substance abusers. https://www.google.co.uk/search?client=safari&;rls=en&q=addictive+personality+inherited&;ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&gfe_rd=cr&ei=LhHRWJXDKuvR8gfB65S4Bg

[naomi24]

A friend of mine who has recently been treated for an alcohol related condition was told by the Consultant that alcoholism can be hereditary.

[Islay]

I believe so my grandfather was, mother was, brother is and I was addicted to food. So I would say it is addiction that is hereditary !

[emmie]

could be, i have known many alcoholics in my time and i reckon they come from a long line of them. My father apparently was a drinker and i think his father before that, so it could run in families.

[pixie374]

Not literally- propensity to addiction is inherited though- and possibly it's learnt as "normal"

[Smowball]

Interesting. It is indeed an addiction.

[tamborine]

No, its not hereditary. OH was alcoholic but none of my kids are. My MIL told me to dip babes dummy in brandy to help it sleep.....I never did do that but the stupid cow did it to my OH as a babe.

[Togo]

I believe it may be so. You get it from your kids.

[pixie374]

Lol :-)

[Smowball]

Very good Togo

[naomi24]

There's some misunderstanding going on here. If your parents are alcoholic, it doesn't necessarily follow that you will be alcoholic. However, there is a chance that you may be. As with many genetic conditions, some people are affected - others aren't.

[david small]

I would think that there is a genetic link for alcohol dependence. A predisposition towards alcoholic relief often runs in families, it can often miss a sibling or even a generation, but I'm sure there is a correlation.

[TWR]

There's only one person that controls you Right / Left Hand!

[EDDIE51]

I just think that in a family where a parent is an alcoholic it will be seen as normal by a child. So it is more likely that a child of alcoholic parents will start drinking heavily. Not hereditary as such, more a 'learned' response.

[tamborine]

OH was told alcoholism is hereditary & a disease....rubbish as Ive proved above by my kids. TWR some have their coffee/drinks spiked & not always the imbibers fault.

[TWR]

That's a small Majority Tam.

[ummmm]

I don't think alcoholism is hereditary but I think addictive personalities are.

My dad was a gambling addict and so was his older brother (they did manage to stop) but it's the reason I won't gamble. I wouldn't even put £1 on the grand national. I just don't want to experience the feeling they felt when they won....just in case I'm like them.

[EDDIE51]

Not everyone who drinks heavily will become an alcoholic. There is a major difference between being 'Alcohol dependent ' and being an Alcoholic.
An Alcoholic has a physical dependance on alcohol just as a Heroin addict has a dependence on heroin. The body chemistry actually alters so that it depends on alcohol to operate normally.An alcohol dependant person is not physically dependant on alcohol to function as an alcoholic is, but they are 'socially' and 'emotionally' dependent on it.
A true alcoholic can not stop drinking without getting severe mental and physical problems such as DT's ('The Shakes') and hallucinations .An alcohol dependant can stop without the physical symptoms that a true alcoholic gets. It is still very hard for a alcohol dependant to stop due to the social and emotional attachment to drinking.