How does family history of alcoholism affect my alcohol use?
Having alcoholism in the family can put people at higher risk for developing dependence on alcohol. When looking at family history, look most closely at immediate family: parents, grandparents and siblings. People with a biological risk are at four times higher risk for developing alcohol dependency than people who do not have this family history. This increased risk is biological and does not decrease if the person does not live with you, is deceased, or is in recovery. Research has shown that a person with a biological family history of alcoholism have a higher initial tolerance to alcohol, which may allow them to consume more alcohol initially than someone without an increased biological risk. They may also experience slightly more pleasure and relaxation from alcohol and have a higher risk for dependence. The combination of these put people at a higher risk, though everyone is at some risk for alcohol dependence, depending on how much and how often they use alcohol.
