¶ … Genetic Link of Alcoholism
Introduction great deal of attention and research has recently been concentrated on the genetic link of alcoholism and on the possibility of accounting genetically for drunken behavior. Early studies found reliable genetic transmission of alcoholism. Much of this research focused on the offspring of alcoholics and on the biochemical or neurological abnormalities they inherit that possibly lead to pathological drinking. Other studies focused on a gestalt of personality traits (concentrating on impulsiveness and antisocial activity) that can end in alcoholism.
According to Holden (1985, p. 38), "A decade ago such a theory (of inherited antisocial personality and alcoholism) would have been dismissed as out of hand." Today, this viewpoint has gained broad acceptance amongst psychologists. New research has created more detailed deterministic models of alcoholism based on biological concepts models, which have had a significant impact on the thinking of both public and clinical workers.
This paper will examine the genetic link of alcoholism, examining existing research on the subject to draw conclusions about their ability to describe alcoholism. Particular attention will be given to the idea that alcoholism is a disease determined by biological predisposition (Milam and Ketcham, 1983).
Is Alcoholism Inherited?
More and more scientific evidence suggests that alcoholism has a genetic component. However, the actual gene that may cause it has yet to be discovered. Studies of laboratory animals, in addition to various human test subjects, demonstrate that genetic factors play a key role in the development of alcoholism, but experts still do not know how much of a role.
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry statistics show that children of alcoholics are four times more likely than other children to become alcoholics. However, it must be noted that environmental factors could be a factor in many of these cases.
Family, twin and adoption studies suggest that alcoholism definitely has a genetic component. In 1990, Blum et al. proposed an association between the A1 allele of the DRD2 gene and alcoholism. The DRD2 gene is the first candidate gene that has shown promise of an association with alcoholism (Gordis et al., 1990).
Research suggests that genes greatly influence the chance of alcoholism occurring. Through extensive studies and research, it has been shown that a predisposition to alcoholism may be inherited.
According to Ohlm (1991), alcoholism is a "chronic, progressive, incurable disease, characterized by loss of control over alcohol and other sedative drugs." Alcoholism has three stages, with various symptoms. In the first stage, alcoholism involves relief drinking, amnesia, and drunk driving. The transition between the first and second stages involves a loss of control over the disease, as well as one's life (Ohlm, 1991). The middle stage includes family problems, such as divorce and dishonesty, job problems, legal problems, and moral issues. The final stage is characterized by physical deterioration (Ohlm, 1991). These stages occur in this general order in all alcoholics, with the corresponding symptoms, making alcoholism a reliable and predictable disease.
The outcome of alcoholism is a national problem and a threat to society. Ninety-six percent of all alcoholics die of alcoholism. Less than one percent become insane, and the remaining four percent of all alcoholics try to get help and recover from their disease. Alcoholism is the third leading cause of death in the United States, and the first cause in the 15- to 24-year-old age group (Ohlm, 1991). Luckily, there is treatment for alcoholism. For those who seek help, the recovery rates are from 70 to 80% (Ohlm, 1991). Alcoholism treatments include support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, rehabilitation centers, and counselors.
Genetics influences almost everything in a human being's body. There are many physiological differences between alcoholics, and nonalcoholics, which can be seen in relatives of alcoholics, even if the relative is not an alcoholic. For example, in alcoholics, the liver has a hard time storing sugar, and has problems using sugar gradually, but an alcoholic's liver often burns alcohol instead of sugar. Partially because of this, alcohol can be more of a stimulant than a depressant to alcoholics (Royce, p. 147). For this reason, many alcoholics lose control over their drinking.
The Genetic Link
For hundreds of years, observers have suggested that alcoholism is passed from one generation to the next. Morel believed that parental drunkenness produced alcoholic excess in the first generation, and grew as it was passed through generations, until the fourth generation became sterile, and the family line ceased (Murray and Stabenau, 1982). However, these early views were dismissed. Jellinek posed three questions that aimed to understand the genetic effects on alcoholism: "(1) does parental alcoholism cause...
" In addition, many anthropologists have agreed that "cultural expectations define the ways in which drinking, both normal and abnormal, is done in a society" (Mandelbaum 1965: 288) (Wilcox, 1998). Comparisons of drinking behavior patterns across cultures suggest that, "like all other behaviors in any given cultural system, were based on cultural expectations. Who drank and when and how much they drank was determined by custom" (Wilcox, 1998). For example,
Crime Understanding why crime occurs requires an appreciation for the complexity of human behavior. Behavior is not determined by one factor, but rather influenced by a host of interrelated factors. Modern biological theories in criminology differ from previous theories in that they examine the entire range of biological characteristics, including those that result from genetic defects (those that are inherited) and those that are environmentally induced. In addition, theories developed since
In fact, some people can recover from alcoholism with no formal treatment whatsoever, and others may "…cycle in and out of dependence" during their entire lifetime, Huebner continues (296). One relatively new idea in terms of treating alcoholics is to use the powerful hallucinogenic drug, LSD, according to an article in Medline Plus (Preidt, 2012). A study using 536 patients who were alcohol dependent showed that "a single dose of
Alcoholism is considered as a family disease wherein a person consuming alcohol can completely upset a household and create damaging consequences which can be a lifelong problem. (Alcoholism and Its Effect on the Family) In excess of 28 million Americans are children of alcoholics and about 11 million are below 18 years of age. (Children of Addicted Parents: Important Facts) Children of Alcoholics -- COA's are four times more susceptible
exist between alcoholism as a learned behavior (rather than as a condition arising from any genetic predisposition) and self-esteem. This research is based upon the assumption that there is a direct connection between self-esteem and learned behaviors: While a person's self-esteem may of course be affected by inherited conditions (such as a birth defect) it is much more likely to be affected by conditions that the person believes that
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Alcoholism/Addiction Narrative Alcoholism and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Overview PTSD and Co morbidity of Alcoholism: The Role of Trauma Childhood Abuse and Gender Differences in PTSD Association Between Alcoholism and Emotion Genetic and Environmental Influences Models of Assessment/Conclusions Abstract TC "Abstract" f C l "1" This study will examine the relationship between post traumatic stress disorder and alcoholism/addiction. The author proposes a quantitative correlation analysis of the relationship between PTSD and alcoholism be conducted to
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