I started out my research with acute intoxication and trying to find an answer to why someone would drink so much to put them at risk for permanent damage or death. As I was doing this, I came across a study that was conducted by the University of Texas at Austin. The link for the study is at http://www.utexas.edu/research/asrec/alcoholfacts.html

This study was answering the question of why is there a genetic basis for alcohol dependency. The article published at the above website states that “Because the genetics of alcohol problems have been studied for over 20 years, and such studies have clearly shown that over 50% of the causes of alcohol dependence are related to the genetic tendency to develop the disease. Family, twin, and adoption studies implicate the hereditary nature of alcohol dependence. Exciting new findings are showing that neurotransmitter receptors in the brain (for GABA, serotonin, and other chemicals) are somehow involved in the vulnerability of people for the disease. (September 13, 2004)”

In addition they point out that “Alcohol dependence runs in families. While this suggests a genetic cause, many things run in families that are not genetic (for example, speaking Spanish). However, twin and adoption studies performed over the past two decades clearly indicate a genetic susceptibility for alcohol dependence in families. Alcohol dependence is not a genetic disease (which suggests destiny); rather, the tendency to become alcoholic is inherited. Thus alcoholism can skip generations, or affect only certain individuals in an alcoholic family. (December 17, 2001)’

A second study that I came across was at http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Social/Module2Etiology&NaturalHistory/Module2.html

This study in essence took a look at nature verses nurture and studied the adoptees of an alcoholic natural father in a majority of the cases who was relinquished to adoption at birth. The studies that they referenced were conducted in both Scandinavia and in the US. The adoptees were all placed in the homes of adoptive parents who were not alcoholics. These studies have found that theses adoptees develop alcoholism as adults at a higher rate than adoptees with natural parents who are not alcoholics. (cf. Goodwin et al., 1974; Cloninger, Bohman, & Sigvardsson, 1981; Cadoret, Cain, & Grove, 1980).

Note: Photograph taken by Karen Sterner at the George Dickel Distillery in Virginia.