Is alcoholism a hereditary disease?
On One Hand: Genes May Influence AlcoholismGenes may influence a person’s risk of becoming an alcoholic, although the exact genes involved in alcoholism have not been identified, according to the Mayo Clinic and Medline Plus.On the Other: Other Factors Influence AlcoholismWhile parents may influence their child’s risk of alcoholism through genetics, the environment of a home with an alcoholic parent also contributes. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, children who grow up with a parent who is dependent on alcohol are four times more likely than other children to become alcoholics. Other risk factors include needed relief from anxiety and stress, conflict, depression, having low-self esteem, access to alcohol and peer pressure, according to the Mayo Clinic and Medline Plus.Bottom LineAlcoholism may be partially hereditary, but the child’s home environment and other factors also contribute to their risk for alcohol dependency.
