Understanding The Heredity and Genetics of Alcoholism
Struggling with alcohol use disorder can lead to a lot of questions. A big one might be why you’ve ended up at this point in your life. And, if you have parents, siblings, or aunts and uncles who are also at this low point, you may even be left wondering:
Is alcoholism genetic? Could some genetic predisposition really be a factor in how I’ve gotten to this point?
Your genes are only part of a much bigger story. And, by realizing what’s genetic influence and what you can control, it’s easier to find hope. You don’t have to accept addiction as your reality, regardless of what “runs in your family”.
Purpose Healing is here to guide you through this process. We’ll help you understand which factors you can control, what you can do about them, and when you should consider professional support for alcoholism and its risk factors.
What Does the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Say About Alcohol Use Disorder?
Alcohol use disorder can be mild or severe, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). You’ll be diagnosed (or not) depending on certain patterns. For example, having a hard time stopping, withdrawal symptoms, drinking more than you’d like, or continuing to use alcohol even when there are obvious and harmful consequences.
Even though it’s diagnosed by certain patterns, the American Psychiatric Association’s DSM-5 also makes it clear that alcoholism is more than “drinking too much”. It’s more complex than that. Alcohol use disorder involves brain chemistry, genetics, environment, and emotional health.
Is Alcoholism Genetic or Learned?
Many of us have heard the nature vs. nurture argument. But what does that mean with substance abuse? It means that a combination of inherited traits and environmental influences plays a role. This “environment” is everything from the drinking habits of family members when you were a child to working in a high-stress job that makes you want to drink.
Even if nature and nurture are working against you, though, it doesn’t mean you’re doomed by your family genetics or your upbringing. You have control over your environment now.
How Is Alcohol Abuse Connected to Family History?
The research doesn’t lie. If you have a parent, grandparent, or sibling who struggles with alcoholism, you have a greater risk of developing alcoholism yourself. Note that this is a risk. There’s no guarantee that you’ll develop alcohol use disorder, especially if you do your best to keep heavy and frequent alcohol consumption in check.
Your family history might influence alcohol abuse if it was normalized in your home growing up. Drug abuse can also be normalized for children if they see it a lot.
The way family members use alcohol, or modeling, also matters. You might see them drink to manage stress, then turn to that as a coping skill later in life. Certain traits and genetic factors, like genetic skin sensitivities to alcohol, can also be passed down through families.
Does the Alcohol Addiction Gene Actually Exist?
There are multiple genes involved in how likely you are to “overdo it” with alcohol consumption. Different genetic variants affect things like stress response, impulsivity, reward pathways in your brain, and how your body metabolizes alcohol. These same genes can also influence other substance use disorders.
This means there’s no single cause. Still, these genetic studies do a good job of explaining why some people are more likely to struggle with alcohol addiction, especially when other risk factors come into play.
What Genes Are Associated with Alcohol Use and Dependence?
Like all things in science, our knowledge about the world is constantly evolving. So far, there are several genes scientists have identified that affect your risk:
- GABRA2: Affects GABA receptors related to calming and reward responses
- ADH1B and ALDH2: (alcohol dehydrogenase): Influence alcohol metabolism
- OPRM1: Linked to the brain’s opioid system and alcohol reward
- SLC6A4: A gene that transports serotonin, tied to emotional regulation
If you have any (or even all) of these genes, it does not mean you are doomed to be a heavy drinker. They do make you more vulnerable to making poor decisions about alcohol, though.
How Alcohol Metabolism Impacts Genetic Risk
How fast your body breaks down (or metabolizes) alcohol plays a big part in whether you might struggle with addiction. A higher alcohol metabolism means your body processes alcohol quickly. It doesn’t linger in your system, so you don’t feel the effects as intensely. You also may need to keep drinking once you start to maintain your “buzz”.
If you metabolize alcohol more slowly, then processing alcohol takes longer. You’ll need to drink less to get (and stay) intoxicated. You might even notice symptoms like nausea, flushing, or rapid heartbeat not long after you start drinking.
Is Alcohol Tolerance Genetic?
Your genetic factors play a big role in your tolerance for alcohol. You may even have a tolerance the first time that you drink. This means even with it being your first time, you may need to drink more than your peers to be on the same level as them.
This heightened tolerance increases your risk of developing alcoholism. It also means that there’s a greater risk of severe withdrawal symptoms when you quit drinking. Choosing to detox at a treatment center like Purpose Healing can help make the detox process safer (and more comfortable).
How Much of Alcohol Use Disorder is Influenced by Biology?
Molecular genetics can play a big role in developing AUD, but it isn’t the whole story. Researchers estimate this influence is right around 40-60%. This number feels significant – but it also means that 40-60% of your influence isn’t controlled by genetics. They are things in your environment that you can control, particularly with the right choices and the right support.
What Environmental Factors Are Associated with Alcohol Problems?
Your environmental factors are things like whether you were exposed to heavy drinking in childhood or being a part of social circles where drinking is a big part of spending time together.
Any of these things can make drinking alcohol in excess feel “normal”. Mental health challenges, unresolved trauma, chronic stress, and lack of emotional support also play a significant role.
How Do Trauma and Mental Health Conditions Shape Alcohol Dependence?
If you struggle with alcohol use disorder, something deeper may be going on. It’s not uncommon for the real reason you’re drinking to be mental health issues, untreated trauma, or life stress.
You turn to alcohol as self-medication in these cases.
Sometimes, though, alcoholism creates mental health issues. The way it affects your brain makes conditions like depression and anxiety more likely. You also start to feel like you never feel “good” unless you’re under the influence. Fortunately, with healing, secondary mental health conditions usually go away.
How Can I Reduce My Risk if Alcoholism Runs in the Family?
If you’ve already recognized substance abuse in your family members, that’s a great first step to breaking generational curses. From there, what you choose to do matters. Be mindful of how drinking alcohol affects your mood and behavior. Try not to binge drink or “overdo it”.
If things in your environment, like mental health or extreme work stress, are driving you to drink, see what you can do to change those things.
Look for healthier coping skills than drinking, so that when you are under mental or emotional pressure, you aren’t turning to alcohol as an emotional crutch. Even small steps like these improve your chance of beating alcohol abuse and alcoholism.
Get Help Overcoming Alcohol Abuse at Purpose Healing Today
You can’t change your genetics, but you can take control of your environment. At Purpose Healing Center, we’ve helped many people, with or without a genetic disposition to alcohol use disorder, start taking steps toward a better relationship with alcohol.
If you’re concerned about your drinking or risk factors, call our admissions team today. We can give you the emotional support and tools for long-term recovery that are needed to heal. Help is available, and hope is possible.
Please reach out now, all calls are confidential.
480-579-3319