Is alcoholism an inherited disease?
It has long been observed that alcoholism tends to run in families. Researchers are finding strong evidence that there are genes that influence a person’s susceptibility to alcoholism, but a person’s environment may contribute to the onset of the disease. For instance, a person may be genetically wired for alcoholism, but never use alcohol and the disease is not triggered. Family history is not definitive, however. A positive family history does not mean a person will unquestionably develop alcoholism, and a person may become alcoholic even with no family history of the disease.
