How do they know alcoholism is a disease and not a trait?

Is being an alcoholic a disease or is it a physical trait like being tall or blonde? Could it be both? I have heard that it tends to run in families, so if you have an alcoholic parent or grandparent the odds are that you have that tendency too. Isn't that what a trait is? Something genetic passed on from the x or y chromesome? Why do they treat it like a disease and not do more genetic study to find out whether it is inherent in certain people?

alcoholism runs in my family but maybe it's just the amyglada that hasn't been able to turn off the anxiety switch.. Maybe alcoholism is self medicating because the brain is obsessing on negative thoughts? I can see problems with neurotransmitters not working properly, but buying booze is just medicating the disorder.

my take.

[edit on 14-9-2004 by TrueLies]

AFAIK-

You can inherit a tendency for alcoholism, but not alcoholism itself. If you inherit MS, you have MS. If you inherit hemophelia, you have hemiphelia. If you inherit alcoholism, you aren't born an alcoholic. You just have a tendency to become one if you drink to excess. Certain races (such as Native Americans) are more prone to alcoholism than others. This does not mean they are born drunk.

It's not a genetic disease, it's a condition that can be exacerbated by genetic traits. I believe they treat it as a disease because it is 'curable' through non-genetic means. You can't 'cure' genetic problems, only cover them up and suppress them.

I think it's more of...your ability to resist.....that is inherited. Other things come into play also...myself for example. I do not handle alcohol well. I am half N.A. where as the Europeans have had alcohol mixing within their system for centuries....N.A. were only recently introduced when the white man came to this country....this is an inherited thing of race.

Originally posted by LadyV
I think it's more of...your ability to resist.....that is inherited. Other things come into play also...myself for example. I do not handle alcohol well. I am half N.A. where as the Europeans have had alcohol mixing within their system for centuries....N.A. were only recently introduced when the white man came to this country....this is an inherited thing of race.

I was under the impression that the Native Americans had alcohol all along, just that either it was in smaller quantities or not as potent.

But it still does not explain why, in a family who would all have the tendency to become alcoholics that only one or two of them would have a full fledged case. The same would go for someone with a tendency to be overweight or a tendency to be diabetic.Is there a secondary trigger is some people that carry them over the edge.

Originally posted by Esoterica


I was under the impression that the Native Americans had alcohol all along, just that either it was in smaller quantities or not as potent.

Alcohol found its way to the Native American population of North America during early contacts between Native people and European visitors, traders and explorers who, for whatever reasons, were eager to share their intoxicating drink. Up to that time, N.A. drank a much less potent form of alcohol and they were unprepared to handle this more potentforms of alcohol and, like many other so-called civilizing influences, alcohol altered our existence, culture, and way of life for many years even yet to come.

Only about 5% of all people who claim to be Alcolholics are truly that, the other 95% are just extreme abusers who use Alcoholism as an excuse.

A true Alcoholic has a chemical imbalance in there brain that turns alcohol in to a moriphine like chemical that's highly addictive.

So yes real alcoholism is an inherited physical trait. as in a brain abnormality.

Addiction used with disease is a really bad Idea it gives people a reason / excuse for their bad habits and removes them from taking responsibility for their actions.

Originally posted by comppwizz

Only about 5% of all people who claim to be Alcolholics are truly that, the other 95% are just extreme abusers who use Alcoholism as an excuse.

A true Alcoholic has a chemical imbalance in there brain that turns alcohol in to a moriphine like chemical that's highly addictive.

So yes real alcoholism is an inherited physical trait. as in a brain abnormality.

Addiction used with disease is a really bad Idea it gives people a reason / excuse for their bad habits and removes them from taking responsibility for their actions.

While I am not certain about the percentages, since I haven't done the research, I do agree with you on your last statement.

I feel a disposition to become hooked, is an inherited factor. NO in fact people are not born alcoholics, but someone who has the predisposition to become so, most likley will, if they expirement with alcohol.

Someone who never touches liquor, with a genetic presdisposition to become an alcoholic, is not an alcoholic until they start drinking, wanting an escape, and feeding it with the sauce.

-ADHDsux4me