If your father was an alcoholic what are your chances of become an alcoholic?

Answer 1

It is generally agreed that alcoholism can be hereditary, and if you have or had an alcoholic parent then you run a higher risk of developing the condition yourself than other people might.

However, this does not necessarily mean it is an unavoidable situation. There are many other contributory factors that can compound the issue, so just because you have an alcoholic parent, or parents, does not automatically mean you will develop the disease yourself.

It does mean, however, that you will need to be more vigilant than most other people, and keep a careful and honest watch on what you are doing when it comes to your alcohol consumption habits.

Alcoholism does tend to run in families and it's felt that genetics are partly responsible for this. Much research is and has been undertaken to discover and understand those genes that make a person prone to developing alcoholism. In clinical research, it has been found that twins born to alcoholic parents, given up for adoption and living separately, have both gone on to develop alcoholism, and studies like this lend weight to the heredity argument.

But popular opinion is that it's this genetic glitch, together with environmental situations and learnt behaviour from an alcoholic home that can cause the disease to develop. It's not necessarily just genetic… these other factors play a huge part in the whole thing.

Answer 2

Having a parent who is an alcoholic does increase the risk of developing alcohol use disorder, but it is not a guarantee. Genetics, environment, and personal choices all play a role in determining an individual's likelihood of developing Alcoholism. Seeking support, therapy, and making healthy lifestyle choices can help reduce these risks.