Can Alcoholism Run in the Family? Understanding Genetic Predispositions to Alcohol Abuse  

Donna Major, RN, BSN

Director of Nursing

Donna Major is an accomplished Director of Nursing with over three years of experience in nursing leadership. A graduate of Concordia University in Ann Arbor, Donna earned a nursing degree that laid the foundation for a successful career in healthcare.

Before entering the nursing profession, Donna served in the U.S. Army for five years during the Iraq War, gaining invaluable experience in high-pressure environments. This service shaped Donna’s leadership and decision-making skills, which have since translated seamlessly into the nursing field.

In addition to Donna’s professional achievements, Donna is a proud parent of two children. Balancing family life with a successful career, Donna is passionate about providing compassionate, high-quality care and fostering a supportive environment for both staff and patients.

As Director of Nursing, Donna leads with a focus on excellence, collaboration, and patient-centered care.

Donna Major, RN, BSN

Director of Nursing

Donna Major is an accomplished Director of Nursing with over three years of experience in nursing leadership. A graduate of Concordia University in Ann Arbor, Donna earned a nursing degree that laid the foundation for a successful career in healthcare.

Before entering the nursing profession, Donna served in the U.S. Army for five years during the Iraq War, gaining invaluable experience in high-pressure environments. This service shaped Donna’s leadership and decision-making skills, which have since translated seamlessly into the nursing field.

In addition to Donna’s professional achievements, Donna is a proud parent of two children. Balancing family life with a successful career, Donna is passionate about providing compassionate, high-quality care and fostering a supportive environment for both staff and patients.

As Director of Nursing, Donna leads with a focus on excellence, collaboration, and patient-centered care.

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Do you wonder if alcoholism “runs in the family”? Many do. In this article I explain what’s involved, including the genetic connection as well as other factors. Read on to also learn more about the causes of alcoholism and its long term effects on the brain and body.

Understanding Alcoholism 

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcohol addiction is a chronic relapsing disorder associated with:

  • Compulsive alcohol drinking
  • Loss of control over intake
  • Emergence of a negative emotional state when alcohol is no longer available.

It can be mild, moderate or severe [1].

In simple terms, the cycle of alcohol addiction has these main effects [2]:

  1. Alcohol produces pleasure
  2. Habit formation makes it hard to stop drinking
  3. Alcohol initially reduces, then promotes negative emotional states and pain
  4. In the misery of withdrawal, the brain becomes motivated to continue drinking
  5. Executive functions in the brain become dysregulated affecting impulse control, decision-making and emotional regulation. This makes it harder to withstand urges to drink and avoid repeating the negative behaviors in the addiction cycle

The Genetic Connection

Scientists don’t yet fully understand why some people become addicted to alcohol and others don’t. But it is believed that 50-60% of the vulnerability to AUD is inherited [3]. 

There are a variety of genes which carry risk. Some of these genes have been identified including two genes of alcohol metabolism, ADH1B and ALDH2, that have the strongest known effects on risk for alcoholism. Studies are revealing other genes in which variants impact risk for alcoholism or related traits [4]. These include genes related to:

  • Addiction-related brain biology
  • Physical responses to both alcohol and stress
  • Co-occurring mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression
  • Behavioral factors such as impulsiveness

Warning Signs 

There are many warning signs that can indicate you may have a problem with alcohol. The simplest relate to the following two areas:

Tolerance

  • Do you have to drink more than you used to in order to get buzzed?
  • Can you drink more than other people without getting drunk?

If you answered yes to either or both questions, you may have signs of tolerance which can be an early warning sign of alcoholism. Tolerance means that, over time, you need more and more alcohol to feel the same effects.

Withdrawal

  • Do you need a drink to steady the shakes in the morning?

If the answer is yes, you are likely drinking to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms, a sign of alcoholism and a huge red flag. When you drink heavily, your body gets used to the alcohol and experiences withdrawal symptoms if it’s taken away.

Other warning signs include:

  • Choosing drinking over other responsibilities and obligations
  • Drinking alone or in secrecy
  • Making excuses for drinking such as to relax, deal with stress or feel normal
  • Becoming isolated and distant from friends and family members
  • Changing the group of friends you hang out with
  • Exhibiting signs of irritability and extreme mood swings
  • Feeling hungover when not drinking
  • Experiencing temporary blackouts or short-term memory loss

Causes of Alcoholism 

Risks for alcohol-related harm are influenced by a wide range of factors, and alcohol-related harm can happen to anyone. These factors include:

Genetics

As described above, genetics plays a significant role in the development of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). While genetic differences affect risk, there is no “gene for alcoholism” and both environmental and social factors weigh heavily on the outcome. It’s likely that, as for most complex diseases, alcohol dependence and AUDs are due to variations in hundreds of genes, interacting with different social environments [4].

Environmental Stress

Stress is one of the most important factors which arises from your environment. People who experienced childhood trauma, later family conflict or many stressors as teens or adults, may be at risk for developing AUD. They may also be at risk for relapsing in response to stress during recovery. These, combined with a person’s genetic makeup and history of drinking strongly influence the stress response. 

For those with moderate to severe AUD, the brain’s stress circuits become activated during withdrawal, leading to negative emotional states. These factors help to fuel the cycle of addiction and such states are the main cause of relapse.

Mental Health and Age

Those with mental health conditions such as anxiety,depression and PTSD have a greater risk for AUD. And those heavy drinkers who started drinking in their teen years are at greater risk of AUD. Teen brains are not yet fully developed and their pleasure circuits are highly active making alcohol use even more rewarding and attractive for some.

Can It Run In Families? 

Many scientific studies, including research conducted among twins and children of alcoholics, have shown that genetic factors influence alcoholism. These findings show that children of alcoholics are about four times more likely than the general population to develop alcohol problems. Children of alcoholics also have a higher risk for many other behavioral and emotional problems.

Long-Term Effects of Alcohol 

Effects On the Brain

Alcohol interferes with the brain’s communication pathways (neurotransmitters) and can affect the way the brain looks and works. Alcohol makes it harder for the brain controlling balance, memory, speech and judgment to do their jobs. This results in a higher likelihood of injuries and other negative outcomes. Long-term heavy drinking causes changes in neurons and also reduces their size [5].

Alcohol has a toxic effect on the central nervous system and can cause significant brain impairment. Alcohol related brain impairment (ARBI) is more likely in those who drink heavily over a long period of time. However excessive binge drinkers are also at risk after a few years.  The symptoms depend on which part of the brain has been damaged. It can include problems with new learning and memory, thinking abilities, particularly executive functioning, and physical coordination [6].

Brain injury can be caused by alcohol because it:

  • Has a toxic effect on the central nervous system
  • Results in changes to metabolism, heart functioning and blood supply
  • Interferes with the absorption of vitamin B1 (thiamine), an important brain nutrient
  • May be associated with poor nutrition
  • Can lead to falls that injure the brain

However, within a year of stopping drinking, most cognitive damage can be reversed or improved.

Effects On the Body 

Drinking has a wide range of impacts on the body. In summary they include [7]:

Heart: 

  • Cardiomyopathy: Stretching and drooping of the heart muscles
  • Arrhythmias: Irregular heartbeat
  • Stroke
  • High blood pressure

Liver:

  • Fatty liver
  • Alcoholic hepatitis
  • Fibrosis
  • Cirrhosis

Pancreas:

  • Alcohol causes the pancreas to produce toxic substances that can eventually lead to pancreatitis, a dangerous inflammation in the pancreas that causes swelling and pain (which may spread) and impairs its ability to make enzymes and hormones for proper digestion

Cancer: 

  • There is a strong scientific consensus that drinking alcohol can cause several types of cancer. The consumption of alcohol is considered a known human carcinogen.

Alcohol Addiction Treatment in Michigan   

Rushton Recovery understands the complex nature of drug & alcohol recovery. We prioritize your well-being, safety, and comfort during treatment. Our detox and residential treatment center in Michigan offers a healing space to embark on your journey toward sobriety. 

We offer evidence-based therapies designed to evolve with your individual needs and address the root of your substance abuse. Let our team help you get clean, repair relationships, and equip you with the skills to achieve long-term recovery. Reach out to our Admissions team now.

Sources

[1] National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. 2021. The Cycle of Alcohol Addiction.

[2] National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. 2023. Neuroscience: The Brain in Addiction and Recovery

[3] National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. 2024. Alcohol Use Disorder: From Risk to Diagnosis to Recovery

[4] Edenberg HJ, Foroud T. Genetics and alcoholism. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2013 Aug;10(8):487-94.

[5] National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Alcohol and the Brain: An Overview

[6] Victoria State Government Department of Health. Alcohol related brain impairment

[7] National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Alcohol’s Effects on the Body.

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