Is addiction genetic?

Yes and no. There is a genetic component, where those who have the alcoholism gene are 4x more likely to become alcoholics. But it’s a likelihood, not an absolute, and it’s not like people with the gene can’t definitely overcome it, it’s just somewhat harder for them to control their drinking and be healthy about booze than it is for people who don’t have the gene.

Sorry, last line of paragraph one should read “the addictions fault” as in the addiction is an entity to blame to relieve the individual of full blame.

There is a genetic pre-disposition to alcoholism. it is possible that it skipped you. You only have ¼ of your genes from your grandfathers and ½ from your father.

I’m sorry that you have been exposed to so much addictive behavior.

Many people on my mother’s side of the family drink. So does she. Her smoking, drinking father got kicked out of the police force for alcohol abuse. My grandfather on the other side doesn’t drink but his brother was an alcoholic and there are also weight issues. Both my grandmothers don’t drink at all.

My oldest sister is overweight, drinks and smokes. I don’t. My family is very prone to addictions so I tend to avoid booze and cigarettes. So I don’t know if I have the gene or not. I do tend to eat too much but that might have to do with the way I was raised.

Well, as far as I’m aware there is research to prove that there is a genetic component. Having said that, I believe many people in addiction use this as a scapegoat. It may be genetic for some, but they still have a choice to make at the end of the day. We choose how we behave. I’m not claiming it’s a simple process, but one that can be overcome with the right supports in place.
I too have a lot of addiction in my family @mrrich724 It’s not easy growing up around that.

There is a strong genetic component, but there is also an environmental factor. Your mother grew up with an alcoholic, and lo and behold she married one. People from alcoholic families tend to carry the dysfunction on in their lives.

And alcoholism is not necessarily a “switch” that automatically gets turned on with the first drink. It is progressive. The best thing you could do is to be aware what you can do if later in life you realize you have become powerless over alcohol, and your life has become unmanageable.

I, personally, don’t believe in addiction. I don’t buy the whole psychological dependence excuse. Physiological dependence is different, that’s something legit but psychological dependence? No. That’s crap. It is a choice. Maybe some people have less willpower than others, but I think the disease theory of addiction is rubbish.

Now are some people more predisposed to abuse substances? Sure, but I doubt if a genetic component is major factor. Tolerance and dependance can lead to chronic abuse, but there is a simple way of reversing that: quit, at least for a while. Psyching yourself out in order to continue destructive behavior is a choice, calling that addiction is lame… In my book.

So I vote NO, it’s not genetic… It is a personal choice. My $0.02

I also come from a long line of addicts, specifically alcoholics, and I have grown up hearing the same warning. I heed it, but I don’t know if my caution is what safeguards me against addiction, or if I really am just not as prone to it as “genes” would suggest.

@zenvelo great answer. It is definitely progressive.

I pose another question: is it possible that education has something to do with it? I am the first in my family to graduate with a college degree. I used logic to observe that there are many many MANY people who enjoy wine/whiskey/vodka/beer with dinner, or when they go out and are still productive members of society. It’s what gave me the balls to try drinking even though my family tried so hard to demonize it.

They on the other hand, while smart in their own ways, see this problem and attribute it to the entity called alcoholism and therefore think no one should drink if people in their families are alchy’s

Any stats to show that people with a certain level of education have a better predisposition to developing “addictive” behavior?

THe only reason I bring up education is b/c it seems so CLEAR to me that alcohol/drugs aren’t this thing my family has made them out to be, and I can’t identify with their feelings toward it . . . I also can’t see why they can’t see the obvious!

Like my sister who got bad grades. My mom swore she had a learning disorder . . . my stepdad was like “uuuuuh, no she’s just fuckin’ lazy.” Guess what . . . seems she was just lazy… and the doctor did confirm that she’s not likely to have any attention disorders.

There is a genetic predisposition for alcoholism & drug addiction. However, it is not an absolute for people, decisions can be made to not engage in this behavior, or only take an occasional drink. I cannot say this where drug addiction is concerned, because some drugs are much more highly addictive than alcohol is, & I have read where some individuals have stated that they were hooked on whatever drug they used from the very first time they used it.

In my family alcoholism seems to be… however, the side with all the drunks is also Irish.

@mrrich724 Alcoholism and addiction affect people of all socioeconomic levels and educational strata. It seems more predominant in lower income groups because poorer people spend a disproportionate amount of their income feeding their addiction. Maintenance of a job and income is actually one of the factors that keeps one in denial.

For a long time I did not address my own alcoholism because I kept my job, got promoted regularly, and didn’t miss work. But there were many mornings when I was still half gassed from the night before when I got to work. And while my work was going okay, the rest of my life was falling apart.

Yes, believe there is a gene for addiction. My Dad was one.
however, you make your own destiny.

Many people in my family are or were alcoholics, and I myself am one, but I don’t think addictions themselves are genetic. However I do think that certain psychological factors (and prolly lots of other shit) that may be genetic in some families can be easier predisposed to addiction as an ’‘alternative’’ than other bloodlines with similar brain issues.
Addiction is a grand field though, just naming my quick two cents on the subject.

Sweet holy moly, I believe trying to blame addiction on a gene is about as large a steaming pile of fly festering bull shit as trying to say there is a gay, or pedophile gene. What of those who end up addicts who never had any addicts in their family history? I think it is just another way in which someone, who knows, try to take the responsibility off the person who could not live a sober mind, and place it on the chemicals, as if they were force to put it in their bodies.

Absolutely it predisposes them. Whether or not that person has the ability and self-control to fight that urge for addiction is based on other factors i.e. brain chemistry, environmental factors, etc. etc.

Addictive personalities tends to run through families, @mrrich724, regardless of education or socioeconomics. Not all alcoholics drink everyday and many alcoholics are functioning. Alcoholism and other addictions are progressive.

Of course the addict is responsible for their actions. The people in your family who have tended to blame the addiction may be enablers and are just as “sick” as the addicts they’ve enabled.

I wonder why you are questioning alchoholism in yourself in the first place?