Is Alcoholism Hereditary?

Most people have a query in their mind – Is alcoholism hereditary? To answer this question we first need to understand what alcoholism means. Alcoholism is an addiction to drinking which tends to gradually increase in the long run.

Abusive alcoholism leads to alcohol dependence and then it gets very difficult to get out of it. Alcoholism is an alcohol addiction in which a person loses his senses and does unusual things. Alcohol abuse can bring life-threatening conditions for you such as kidney, liver and heart problems.

There could be many reasons why a person who drinks but one of the most important questions which people ask, “is alcoholism hereditary”. The statement means that whether the habit of drinking has been passed through genes or not. Various studies have been conducted and it has been found out that there are almost 50 genes that are associated with alcoholism. A person who does not often drink may have a high chance to get rid of this habit but someone who drinks frequently may face difficulties in getting over it.

Causes of Alcoholism

People always wonder why it is hard for someone to get over this habit. This is because the person who used to drink may have become dependent on it. Alcoholism can turn out badly for you if you do not control it in the early stages. There could be many reasons why a person would drink such as biological factors, social factors, psychological factors, and environmental factors.

Biological Factors

This is one of the major factors why a person tends to drink. Various researches are being conducted to study the impact of biological factors on alcoholism. Researches have shown that biological factors have a contribution of about 50% to this problem and that is why it is so difficult to get rid of alcoholic beverages. Alcoholism makes your mind relaxed and gives you ecstasy and that is why people drink to get those feelings over and over again. If one of your family members is suffering from alcoholism then there is a great chance that you may also suffer from it in your later life.

Social factors

Social factors include your friends and family. There is a high chance that if your friends and family used to drink regularly then you might fall for it as well. You want to make new friends and for that, you tend to do those things which they like so that you may fit in. Children who are being exposed to alcohol from an early age have a high risk that they might lead to alcoholism as well. The people you interact with play a major role in developing this habit. A person should know which company is good for him and which is bad.

Psychological Factors

Alcoholism can be very addictive, it not only harm your physical health but mental health as well. Studies have shown that psychological factors play an important role in developing this habit. A person who has a high level of stress and anxiety will tend to drink more to make himself feel better but he does not know that the pleasure will only be going to last for some time. In the long-term, alcoholism would bring adverse effects to your life which includes mental and physical problems. Your body tends to become tolerant of alcohol, and then to get the same feelings a person will be going to drink more. Alcoholism is a waste of time and money and it will not bring any good to you.

Environmental Factors

Environmental factors also play an equal role as other factors. Recent studies have shown that the person who lives closer to a bar or café or has easy access to drinks even at home, he will drink more than the person who used to live far away from any resources. Also, the person who is living below the poverty line will not drink as much as the person who earns a handful amount of money every month.

How can you help people who are suffering from alcoholism?

It is always important to help people around you who are suffering from alcoholism. They just need someone to support them to get rid of it. The main reason people would start drinking is that they feel stressed, upset and depressed.

The family members must help them in this tough situation because if they do not give up on drinking, it will soon going to push them in a place where it would be impossible for them to get out of it.

A person who is dependent on alcohol cannot get rid of this habit immediately but he can give up on it slowly and gradually. You need to be really careful with alcoholics and never lose faith in them otherwise they will not be motivated to quit drinking. There are specialized professionals out there who also help you out to give up on it. Also, it is necessary to consult a doctor if you want to quit drinking because he is the person who will guide you and will give you a proper road map.

The Final Verdict

Scientists have always wondered about the contribution of genetics to alcoholism. Various researches are being conducted to find the link between the two of them. Results have shown that hereditary does play a major role in developing this habit.

Children who are being exposed to alcohol in their early life as their parents used to drink; there is a high chance that they will adopt the same habit very soon. If a person has a family history of alcoholism then there is a probability that he might do the same as well because the genes which are being transferred on to him play an important role in it also. Hereditary and family history contribute to half of the problem e.g. if one your relative is suffering from alcoholism than it might bring negative effects on to you as well.