Show Genetic Code for Alcoholics I I. I The a Human Humane i r e- Si Sloe Sigie e r By Diane DianeP i- i P Cashel yf i a at t Ei r r. r Education I 1 Program fi i ir r- r f Many studies indicate children F of alcoholics are three to five times likelier to become alcoholics than children of non-alcoholic non parents Does this mean that a tendency towards alcoholism can be inherited inherit inherit- ed Researchers dont don't yet know for sure Both heredity and environment may influence whether or not a person person person per per- son becomes an alcoholic Researchers are still wondering which is most important the biological ical status of a persons person's parent or the way in which the person was raised u the nature vs Nurture debate Unfortunately the results of their studies have been confusing Many alcoholics have no known alcoholic relatives and many children children children chil chil- dren of alcoholics do not become alcoholic Yet children of alcoholics alcoholics alcoholics alco alco- holics who are adopted into nonalcoholic nonalcoholic nonalcoholic non non- alcoholic homes at an early age are still more likely to have a problem with alcohol than children of non- non alcoholics who are adopted into alcoholic homes Researchers disagree about the implications of such findings Some say that certain studies on alcoholism may not be reliable because they depend upon the alcoholics alcoholics alcoholics alco alco- holics own descriptions of them them- selves Some say that research involving adoptive children is inadequate inadequate inadequate equate because non-adoptive non children children children chil chil- dren were not studied in order to determine how being adopted might affect the development of alco alco- holism Still others say that not enough attention has been paid to environmental factors such as the age at which the child was adopted the occupational status of the tive father and whether or not the ethnic background condoned adult drunkenness What does seem clear is that children of alcoholics are physically different from children of non- non alcoholics Differences are shown in brain wave patterns and hormone response to intoxication In addition children of alcoholics report feeling less intoxicated after drinking specified amounts of alcohol alcohol alcohol alco alco- hol than do children of non alco holics Some researchers believe that feeling less intoxicated may contribute to heavy drinking habits Whether r a tendency toward alcoholism alcoholism alcoholism alco alco- holism can be inherited or not the differences suggest that children of alcoholics should be especially careful about whether and how to drink For more information regarding support groups bf Adult Children of Alcoholics call or contact contact contact con con- tact Diane Cashel the director of the Alcohol and Drug program at at 2411 4 |