Vulnerability To Alcohol Use Disorders: A Case Study

To begin with, studies have found that inherited genes are responsible for a considerably large part of the probability that someone will become addicted to any kind of substance or behavior. Addiction is strongly influenced by genetic factors in the later stages of addiction, such as problem use and dependence of an addictive substance. Some genetic factors can make an individual more likely to become addicted to only one specific drug. On the other hand, some genes can make an individual more likely to become addicted in general. Some individuals might be genetically inclined to risk-taking behavior such as receiving large jolts of dopamine through what they consider to be the “excitement” of drug use. These individuals could be subject to keep returning to the illicit and harmful drugs that they find enjoyable despite what they know of the harmful effects. These genetic influences could make them more likely to become addicted to alcohol, cocaine, tobacco, gambling, or any number of substances or activities. Addiction has an inherited component and it

Although the collection of findings from several types of genetically informative research designs does provide compelling evidence for the influence of genetics and heritability on the risk for addiction, they do

A New York based doctor by the name of Ron Crystal started a 10 year search for a vaccine for cocaine addiction. He says that “the real challenge in developing these vaccines, is can you evoke significant amount of immunity sufficient to block the addictive molecule from reaching the brain?”

After reading Drinking A Love Story by Caroline Knapp this story sound so familiar. Caroline reports that she had her first drink at age 14. She does not know when or how it got away from her and she began drinking all the time. Caroline knew that her drinking had become serious problems and she really wanted to quit but, it was hard. One of the reasons it was hard for her to quit she love the way drinking made her feel and “its special power of deflection” (A Lover Story by Caroline Knapp pg 5). She could not stop drinking she was in love with alcohol and they had a very good relationship that she was not ready to let go. She could not imagine living without alcohol because it has been a part of her life for so long. She really goes into detail about her drinking and the quilt and embarrassment the next morning along with a hangover. The book also talk about her going to different place talking about her addiction

Genetics may make up 50% of the risk for alcohol and drug dependence, but not all people who use alcohol and drugs will develop an addiction. Ultimately, addiction is influenced by many factors, including a person’s environment, parents, expectancies of what drinking or using drugs will do, and one’s individual response to drugs and alcohol. While a family history of alcohol or drug dependency is known to contribute significantly to the risk of a child developing the same condition, genes are not the sole determinant of alcoholism or drug dependence. Lots of people have come from addicted families but managed to overcome their family history and live happy lives. Teens may think that they don 't have the choice to stop but they do. Which is why if teens are drug tested earlier in life the can be prevented from developing an addiction.

First, biological predisposition. SR grew up in a family where drinking alcohol was a past time, not only did his uncle drink, but his father was a heavy drinker as well. Addictions are moderately to highly heritable (Bevilacqua, & Goldman, 2009). SR’s childhood expriences and environment also played a part in the development of his alcohol addiction as well. He witnessed his family members drinking, and was often given alcohol at a young age, which more than likely led to the adoption of modeled behaviors. According to the learning model addiction is simply a learned behavior. The importance of environment has been theorized to reflect the important influence of social and familial structure that characterizes development across adolescence (Meyers & Dick, 2010). While his addiction probably didn’t develop during this time it seemed to be the catalyst for his later

Does the environment that one grows up in contribute to alcoholism or is alcoholism determined by genetics? It wasn’t until 1991 that alcoholism was considered both a medical and psychiatric disease by the American Medical Association. Alcoholism is defined in the dictionary as a chronic disorder characterized by dependence on alcohol, repeated excessive use of alcoholic beverages, the development of withdrawal symptoms on reducing or ceasing intake, morbidity that may include cirrhosis of the liver, and decreased ability to function socially and vocationally. (dictionary.com). It is also defined as an addiction to the consumption of alcoholic liquor or the mental illness

There is an emerging literature documenting how specific environmental factors moderate the importance of genetic effects. A growing number of variables have been shown to moderate the relative importance of genetic effects on substance use and dependence and externalizing behavior. Among the environmental moderators being studied are childhood stressors (emotional, physical, and sexual abuse), availability and access to drugs and alcohol, peer-group antisocial and prosocial behavior, religiosity, parental attitudes toward drugs and alcohol, parental monitoring, and socioregional factors. Religiosity has been shown to moderate genetic influences on alcohol use among females, with genetic factors playing a larger role among individuals without a

Extensive research shows that biological factors such as genes are just the beginning of the underlying causes of addiction. Environmental factors play a huge role. There is a profound mutuality between family circumstances and the extent of drug addiction. One study that I found particularly interesting involved 559 people; all of which were families. “The main family factors of drug addiction, according to the results obtained, are family atmosphere, strength of family ties, sense of family happiness, structure of authority in the family, and alcoholism.” (NCBI.NLM.NIH.GOV) In found that drug addicts come from a family that aggression and ill will are present and family ties are far less decrepit than those where addiction was not. The ease of access to drugs and alcohol also was a determining factor of the addiction equation. What I found most concerning was that in families where the mother was the authoritative figure 54.4% --that’s more than half—addiction was present. Vice versa, in the families that love and affection were evident the children rarely took any

Behavioral genetic research conducted on major health related behaviors such as alcohol consumption and other substance abuse disorders has shown that these disorders are an amalgamation of different components. According to Kimura and Higuchi (2011), “alcohol dependence is a common disorder that causes physical, psychological, and social problems” (p. 213). Plomin and Defries and Knopik and Neiderhiser (2013) stated that the path to alcohol dependence, depends on a multitude of factors, such as in the development of tolerance and dependence, the amount of drinks one has and whether one decides to drink or not (p. 297). The critiqued article The Genetics of Alcohol Dependence by Marcella Rietschel and Jens Treutlein uses association, linkage and genome-wide association studies to show that specific genetic variants are involved in creating alcohol dependence.

This essay looks into the development and maintenance of Alcohol Use Disorder in relation to the Biopsychosocial model. The model focuses on three main concepts, biological, psychological and social factors that affect the addictive behaviours. In particular, genetics, trauma and environmental pressures will be used as examples to illustrate the uptake and maintenance of Alcohol Us Disorder. The theory and the addictive behaviour will be applied to the youth community to explain the model’s

Contrary to popular belief, genetics account for about 50% of the likelihood that someone will develop an alcohol addiction. (Horvath, T.)

Alcohol like many other drugs can be addictive; the question is how our genetic makeup and environment play a role in this does? Alcoholism is a difficult condition that encompasses both the genetic and environmental factors. Like other addictive drugs, youths who consume alcohol are more likely to become addicted and remain addicted throughout their adult lives. Alcoholism has a very high impact on our society. The Center for Disease Control informs us that there are over 100,000 alcohol related deaths every year due to drunk drivers and other alcohol related injuries and diseases. Each day 65 drivers die in drunk driving accidents according to the California Capitol Report. In 1988, 25,000 Americans were killed in auto accidents involving

A person’s genetic structure, passed on from their parents, is responsible for both their physical and behavioral characteristics. People who have inherited genes responsible for alcoholism from their parents will automatically be prone to addiction. There is not one single gene that passes alcoholism down through one’s children. Identifying each specific gene involved in alcoholism

As mentioned previously, the first hit of a drug or drink of alcohol is a choice, but there is a genetic predisposition involved as well. Especially if a person has a family member, such as a parent or grandparent, who was also an addict. Although genetics is only attributed to be the cause of addiction. A genetic predisposition, for example would be like “when an animal eats a certain food that it likes, there is an advantage to associating pleasure with that food so that the animal will look for that food in the future.” (Turning