Are Alcoholism and Addiction Genetic?
Is there a genetic component to addiction? It would seem so - the genes for excessive alcohol consumption have been identified.
But how any genetic predisposition can be distinguished from the more behavioural, learnt element is virtually impossible - and when it comes to individual people trying to break out of their addiction, the distinction tells us nothing much of any use.
“Your father was an alcoholic, so unfortunately you inherited that genetic trait.”
“Oh great news, so how does that help me to stop drinking?”
If substances have been used from an early age, then this often becomes the preferred way of coping with difficult feelings. Obviously, we learn most of these skills from our parents, our siblings or our friends as we grow up. So if these people were not themselves dealing with their emotions very effectively, then that is likely to be what we learnt also.
Thus addiction is passed from generation to generation via learning, not just biology.
Oh shit, my father IS an alcoholic, does that mean I’m doomed to be stuck in this mess forever? I bloody hope not!