Studies point to a 50 percent chance of being predisposed to alcohol addiction if you have a family history of alcohol abuse. Just like with various other mental health conditions, genetics play a role in whether or not you face a higher AUD risk. Because alcohol addiction can have significant consequences for people and their loved ones, it’s worth looking at whether it’s passed down the family. We’ll explore other risk factors, discuss the alcoholism gene, and look at protective factors that lower your risk of developing AUD.
Is Alcohol Use Disorder Genetic?
When you develop an alcohol tolerance, it means that a certain amount of alcohol, say, one standard drink, leads to fewer effects over time. Because of this, you need to consume more alcohol to experience the same effects. Though there is a genetic predisposition for alcoholism, you don’t inherit tolerance directly from your parents. If your mother or father has a high tolerance for alcohol, you won’t be born with the same tolerance.
You build a tolerance for a substance like alcohol when you consume large amounts of it over long periods of time. However, studies indicate that alcohol intolerance can be inherited. It’s often observed in people of Asian descent, who experience an adverse reaction to the presence of alcohol in the blood, like flushed skin and a stuffy nose.
Chances Of Inheriting Alcohol Dependence From Your Parents
If a close family relative, like your parent, suffers from alcohol addiction, it accounts for up to 60 percent of your risk of developing AUD. However, genetics aren’t the only way a person inherits alcohol use disorder from their parents. Your genetic disposition doesn’t matter when you have a higher chance of developing alcohol use disorder because of regular exposure to alcohol abuse at home.
Understanding ‘Genetic Risk’
A common misconception is that your genetic risk of developing the condition is the same as having a genetic disorder. It refers to the likelihood that certain gene variants passed down to you will lead to a condition. On the other hand, genetic disorders occur when a mutation affects your genes.
Biological Risk Factors For Alcoholism
Certain essential biological factors can increase your risk of experiencing alcohol addiction:
- Genetic Factors: Having one parent with an AUD makes you more predisposed to developing an addiction than having no parents with AUD habits. Similarly, both parents having an AUD leads to a greater genetic predisposition to developing an addiction.
- Gender: All over the world, men drink alcohol more frequently and engage in heavy drinking more often than women. These risky behaviors cause you to develop a tolerance, explaining why a growing percentage of men are receiving an AUD diagnosis.
- Pre-existing Mental Disorders: If you’re already diagnosed with a mental health condition, the distress from symptoms can increase your risk of developing an addiction.
Despite the important role that biological factors play in determining someone’s risk of experiencing an addiction, you should consider environmental and other causes, too.
Risk By Age
While the risk of developing alcohol addiction by gender or genetics remains constant, your age will change. Remember that your AUD risk at 18 isn’t the same as it will be at 35 because of variations between age groups.
- Adolescence: In adolescents, underage drinking is fairly common, which can lead to brain disruptions and a higher risk of developing AUD in the future. Moreover, many adolescents report having episodes of binge drinking, which poses considerable risks. Heavy drinking during adolescence can negatively affect critical brain development patterns and predict future AUD. The earlier an adolescent starts drinking, the higher the risk of developing an addiction. Binge drinking in adolescence also increases your risk of other risky behaviour, like driving under the influence, unprotected sex, suicide, and drug use.
- Early Adulthood: This is when you’re at the greatest risk of developing an alcohol addiction. Between the ages of 18 and your late 20s, your brain is still developing, and your adult identity is still forming. It’s also when you go through the biggest transitions, like going to college, which presents more opportunities for high-volume drinking. Surveys have found higher rates of AUD among young adults than in other age groups, affecting about 1 in 6 people aged 18 to 25.
- Late 20s to Mid-Life Adulthood: People who had a habit of heavy drinking during young adulthood reduce their alcohol consumption over time. Many of them mature out of heavy drinking because of the transition into adult roles like full-time employment, parenthood, and marriage, which are incompatible with heavy drinking patterns. Meanwhile, some people who would drink heavily as young adults carry on this pattern into middle age. There are also people who first start drinking heavily in middle age, which can be attributed to stressors like financial responsibilities, economic difficulties, and lack of employment opportunities. There’s evidence that most people struggling with alcohol addiction start seeking treatment around their mid-30s to early 50s.
- Older Adulthood: Compared to other age groups, older adults aged 65 and above are least likely to engage in heavy drinking or develop AUD. However, this age group faces a higher risk of harm due to changes in how their body processes alcohol. These present added problems because one drink can have increased intoxicating effects in older adults compared to mid-life and younger adults. Because of this increased sensitivity to alcohol, they face a higher risk of injuries, liver disease, memory problems, and sleep problems, as well as potential impacts on how alcohol affects blood pressure.
Risk By Gender
Besides genetics, gender is another biological risk factor that influences whether or not you have an increased AUD risk. AUD rates among men have historically been higher than those in women. They’ve also experienced higher rates of alcohol-related consequences, but recent studies have found that this gap has narrowed.
Although women have lower rates of AUD, they still suffer more harm, even at lower levels of alcohol exposure. For instance, women with an alcohol addiction do poorly on cognitive tests than men with an alcohol addiction, even when they’ve had an addiction for fewer years. Compared to men, women face a greater risk of developing health problems because of excessive alcohol consumption, like cardiovascular diseases and liver inflammation.
The Possibility of An Alcohol Addiction Gene
Different gene variations can affect your risk of developing alcohol addiction. So, there’s no one gene that causes you to develop an alcohol use disorder. In a study that included 1.2 million people, researchers found 406 different locations in the genetic information, of which 566 variants were associated with alcohol and tobacco use. Researchers also found that genes related to alcohol metabolism, like ALDH2 and ADH1B, are linked to the risk of alcohol-related problems.
Having a family history of alcohol abuse increases your risk of a genetic predisposition to addiction. The highest risk comes from parent-child transmission, but environmental factors play an important role, too. This is especially the case if your family has a history of drug misuse.
Because multiple genes are involved in the development of alcohol addiction, it’s possible that the condition skips a generation. So, even if your parents don’t have an AUD, you can’t guarantee that you won’t develop it, either. Let’s suppose your grandparent has an alcohol addiction, but your parents don’t; it doesn’t mean that you’re not predisposed to developing the condition.
Can You Be Born With AUD?
As mentioned earlier, no one is born with a specific disorder. That’s because addiction occurs due to the interaction of your environment and genetics. Sure, your genes can predispose you to developing an alcohol addiction, but genetic factors only account for 50 percent of that risk. the social and environmental factors you experience account for the remaining 50 percent.
The Effects of Stress on The Risk Of AUD
Genetics aren’t the only factor to influence alcohol outcomes. Whether or not you develop alcohol problems also depends on the environment you grow up and currently live in. When it comes to environmental risk factors, stress is one of the most prominent ones that affect you.
People who experience trauma, especially during childhood, are likely to develop heavy drinking patterns and a high risk of developing AUD. The same goes for people who face various significant stressors throughout their lives, like homelessness, financial insecurity, domestic abuse, and loss of loved ones.
For some people experiencing high levels of stress, alcohol offers a way to cope by making them ‘feel less.’ But just because you’ve faced major stressors doesn’t mean you’re going to develop an alcohol addiction. Your stress response is affected by the type of stressor, its duration, intensity, and your genetic makeup.
If you’re currently experiencing stressful circumstances, we recommend looking for alternative ways to cope. These range from finding opportunities for creative expression, like painting or playing an instrument, to engaging with the community in positive ways, like volunteering or taking a neighbourhood yoga class.
The Impact of Mental Health Conditions on the Risk of AUD
The interaction between genetic and environmental factors can lead to the development of mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. These mental health issues can increase your risk of developing an alcohol addiction because the depressant or stimulating effects of alcohol seem like a good way to relieve your symptoms.
Similarly, an alcohol use disorder can worsen symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other mental disorders by affecting your brain chemistry. Alcohol addiction and mental health concerns can lead to the development of each other, which is why they co-occur so often.
Statistics show that alcohol addiction affects between 20 and 40 percent of people currently seeking treatment for anxiety disorders. Meanwhile, about 40 percent of people who’ve developed a major depressive disorder also had an alcohol use disorder.
Between 15 and 30 percent of people with alcohol addiction have co-occurring PTSD, with rates as high as 50 to 60 percent in veterans and military personnel. According to one study, about 40 percent of men and 50 percent of women with alcohol use disorder had another substance use disorder as well. An estimated 36 to 91 percent of people with alcoholism experience sleep disorders, too.
The Risks of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
Although genetics contribute to about 50 percent of your predisposition to developing AUD doesn’t mean parental alcohol consumption doesn’t have other harmful effects. Alcohol consumption can have harmful effects on the fetus during gestation, though heavy drinking is especially damaging.
Prenatal alcohol exposure can lead to severe life-long cognitive, behavioural, and physical impairments. These are collectively referred to as FASD or fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
No level of alcohol consumption is safe during pregnancy, so obstetricians advise abstaining from alcohol during the pregnancy. Prenatal alcohol exposure in the first trimester is especially detrimental, but that doesn’t mean exposure in the second and third trimesters is less harmful. Low levels of alcohol exposure in pregnancy is associated with motor, cognitive, and other types of defects.
Are You At Risk Of Developing Alcohol Use Disorder?
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism explains that your genetic makeup accounts for half the risk of developing alcohol addiction. But environmental influences like your upbringing and social factors play an important role because of how they interact with your genes.
Though your genetics may affect the chances of having drinking problems, you can mitigate those risks by recognising stressors and controlling how you respond.
Inherited Vulnerability To Drug Abuse
Alcohol research estimates that genetics contribute to 40 to 60 percent of your vulnerability to developing an alcohol addiction. One review of genetic studies summarised that numerous genetic variants are associated with alcohol misuse, addiction, and related traits.
These include genes associated with addiction-related neurotransmitter systems. The D2 subtype of dopamine receptor is one of the genes that has been studied extensively in association to substance addiction.
Inherited Physiological Responses To Alcohol
Though you don’t inherit alcohol tolerance from your parents, you can inherit a high or low level of response. For instance, if you’re described as someone who can ‘hold their liquor,’ you may have inherited a low level of response to alcohol. Because of this, you may need to drink more to experience the effects of alcohol, which puts you at risk of heavy or binge drinking. Meanwhile, someone described as a ‘lightweight’ as a high level of response to alcohol.
Additionally, experiencing stimulating rather than sedating effects from alcohol make you likely to drink heavily. Again, this puts you at risk of developing an AUD.
Protective Factors That Lower Your Risk Of Developing AUD
While risk factors increase the likelihood of developing a condition like AUD, protective factors lower a person’s risk. Some of these remain fairly consistent over time, while others can change. For example, being optimistic and having financial security or a strong support group. The former is a consistent trait, while the other two vary depending on personal circumstances.
- Being resilient: Having the ability to adapt to stressful events can help you avoid dangerous coping strategies like alcohol abuse.
- High self-esteem: Feelings of low self-worth make you more likely to self-medicate with alcohol. Therefore, a positive self-image lowers the risk of developing AUD and improves adherence to treatment.
- Family support and involvement: Support from peers and loved ones can help you recognise unhealthy drinking patterns before you develop a tolerance. They also offer crucial support that helps you cope with distress.
- Financial security: Being in a poor financial situation is a major source of distress. Unfortunately, people end up using alcohol to cope with financial strain, but their addiction only worsens their situation.
- Limited access to alcohol: Living in an environment with limited access to alcohol or having friend groups that abstain from alcohol are both protective factors. It means having fewer opportunities to drink alcohol, reducing the risk of developing a tolerance.
In addition to these, spirituality, health consciousness, and opportunities for positive social involvement can reduce your risk of developing alcohol use disorders.
How You Avoid Developing Alcohol Problems
If you’re worried about developing an alcohol use disorder, remember that there’s no one way to sidestep alcohol issues. Besides abstaining from alcohol permanently, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism provides these tips to lower your chances of developing alcohol abuse problems.
- Set Goals: If you plan on drinking, decide how many days per week you’ll be drinking and the number of drinks you’ll have per day. It’s helpful to have days when you don’t drink any alcohol, while planning your alcohol consumption helps you establish guidelines around drinking.
- Track Your Drinking: To make sure you’re sticking to your plan and not drinking more, keep track of your alcohol consumption. There are different ways to do this, like making check marks in a notebook, writing it down on a calendar, or using an application.
- Look For Alternatives: If most of your hobbies and social activities involve the use of alcohol, it’s time to find alternatives. These can be activities that give you rewarding social interactions without needing alcohol. On the other hand, if you’ve used alcohol to deal with stress, try to look for other coping methods or seek professional help to deal with stressful situations.
- Avoid Triggers: Certain places, people, and events can trigger you to drink more. If you want to cut back on how much you’re drinking, start by identifying these triggers. Then, make plans on how you’ll avoid them before they occur. Having a plan in place prevents you from alcohol misuse when faced with a situation that triggers you to drink.
Can Genetics Affect Alcohol Addiction Treatment?
Now, you’re probably wondering whether your genetics can affect how you respond to alcohol addiction treatment. Genetic differences in brain chemistry and drug metabolism can affect your treatment adherence and response. These findings come from a growing field of study, pharmacogenomics, which can eventually help professionals make tailored treatment decisions.
But regardless of treatment, the main aspects include:
Alcohol Detox
All substance abuse treatment begins with a detox, whether you’re addicted to alcohol, methamphetamine, benzodiazepines, or cocaine. It’s usually a medically supervised process where you stop taking alcohol and manage withdrawal symptoms.
Pharmacological Treatment
To help you cope with painful and uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms, medical professionals prescribe AUD medication. These medications are non-addictive, help you abstain from drinking alcohol, and eliminate your alcohol consumption while preventing relapse.
Behavioural Treatment
Depending on the severity of your addiction, behavioural treatment can include a combination of group, individual, and family therapy sessions. Your licensed therapist can choose from various approaches like motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioural therapy, and dialectical behavioural therapy. These therapies teach you the necessary skills to change your drinking behaviors and cope with cravings.
Tests That Help Professionals Diagnose Alcohol Addiction
The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual defines AUD as a problematic pattern of alcohol use that causes clinically significant distress or impairment. Depending on the number of symptoms you’re experiencing, your alcohol or substance use disorder can be mild, moderate, or severe. These are some of the tests that professionals use to diagnose alcohol alcoholism:
Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Tests (AUDIT)
Developed by the WHO, the AUDIT has 10 items and is administered clinician to assess your alcohol consumption, alcohol-related problems, and drinking behaviours. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, it’s available in a self-report and interview version. You’ll be scored on questions like ‘How often do you have six drinks or more on a single occasion?’ If you get a score of 8 or higher, it indicates harmful alcohol consumption.
Electroencephalography (EEG)
In some cases, professionals use EEG to diagnose and screen patients for alcohol addiction. Because it measures brain activity instead of requiring you to answer questions, some professionals prefer this method as it reduces subjectivity. The machine detects EEG signals related to alcohol misuse, allowing physicians to make objective AUD diagnoses.
Carbohydrate-Deficient Transferrin (CDT)
This is a blood test that detects biomarkers related to excessive alcohol use. It can detect if you drink heavily or are used to binge drinking.
Talk To A Professional About Your Alcohol Abuse
Though genetic contributions matter, they’re not the be-all end-all of your alcoholism risk. Various genetic studies show that there’s no single gene that influences the likelihood of having an addiction. rather, it’s the interplay between your genes and environment that matters. Whether you’re struggling with an alcohol addiction or are worried about being at increased risk of developing an addiction, we recommend talking to a professional.
A licensed and experienced practitioner can evaluate your AUD risk and recommend strategies to help you prevent it. And if you’re already struggling with an addiction, they can help you take the first step towards recovery. At UK Home Detox, we specialise in providing expert rehab facilities involving retox and addiction therapy. We formulate comprehensive treatment plans that include pharmacological and behavioural interventions to help you stay sober, improve your quality of life, and restore your relationships.
FAQs
Is alcoholism a disease?
Yes, alcohol use disorder is a progressive brain disease that has lasting consequences for your brain and behaviour. It leads to the inability to control your use of alcohol, despite its negative effects on your health, relationships, and work performance.
What percentage of alcoholism is genetic?
If your family has a history of alcohol misuse, research shows that genetic risk factors account for a 50 percent chance of being predisposed to alcohol addiction.
Is alcoholism hereditary?
Though genetics account for about 50 percent of the risk of developing alcoholism, not everyone with a family history of alcohol abuse will develop AUD. The causes of alcoholism include various other factors, like peer group pressure, early exposure to alcohol consumption, and having pre-existing mental health concerns.
Is functional alcohol tolerance impacted by genetics?
No, you don’t inherit your alcohol tolerance from your parents, but your body’s level of response to alcohol is affected by genetics. You may have a high or low level of response to alcohol, which can be influenced by genetics.
What is the alcoholism genetic test?
Currently, there’s no test that accurately detects whether you have a higher genetic risk of developing alcoholism. Researchers have found that genes like ADH1B and ALDH2 have strong effects on the risk for AUD, but they’re not the only factors.
