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Experts believe that alcoholism arises from a wide range of physiological, psychological, social and genetic factors. As with many other diseases, alcoholism is influenced by both hereditary and environmental factors. Researchers are looking for the genes that influence vulnerability to alcoholism.
Genes
Alcoholism tends to run in families, and genes partly explain this pattern. Regardless of whether children of alcoholics are raised by alcoholics, they are at risk for alcoholism or alcoholism-related problems. A child of an alcoholic is about four times more likely than someone from a family with no alcoholics to develop a drinking problem.
Maintaining moderate drinking habits may be harder for a child of an alcoholic than for someone without a family history of alcoholism. Genetic risk to alcoholism, however, is not destiny. More than one-half of all children of alcoholics do not become alcoholic. A child of an alcoholic parent will not automatically develop alcoholism, and a person with no family history of alcoholism can become alcohol dependent.
Many other factors affect your risk for alcoholism: your friends, the amount of stress in your life, and if alcohol is easily available.
Genetics and Environment
Researchers are exploring the relationship between genetics and environment. Studies suggest that a person's risk increases if he or she is in a family in which:
- an alcoholic parent is depressed or has another psychological disorder
- both parents abuse alcohol or other drugs
- the parents' alcohol abuse is severe
- conflicts lead to aggression and violence
Other Behaviors in Children of Alcoholics
According to the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI), children of alcoholics may exhibit these other characteristics, too:
- Higher risk for alcohol and other drug problems
- Pervasive tension and stress
- Higher levels of anxiety and depression
- Poor performance in school
- Problems with coping
It's important to recognize that children of alcoholics can learn to trust, handle their feelings in healthy ways and build positive, nurturing relationships - all of which help protect them from alcohol problems. While you cannot change your genes, you can change your unhealthy living patterns and how you deal with outside pressures. Knowing you are at risk can motivate you to take steps to prevent alcoholism.
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External Sources
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Adult Children of Alcoholics
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National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.
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National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
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This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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