Genetic Predisposition

Dear Dr. Bob,
Both of my parents are Recovering Alcoholics and they keep preaching about how I'll become one too if I keep drinking. But I'm only 17. Aren't I too young?
Jamie, Half Moon Bay

Dear Jamie,
The project to map all human genes isn't finished yet. The theory about an alcoholism or addiction gene hasn't been proven either. All of the information is corollary. But the studies of addiction in families is voluminous, especially the Scandinavian studies of twins separated at birth from alcoholic families, raised in abstinent families, still become alcoholic by adulthood. This is not to say role modeling isn't a factor in human development, but in these cases, the genetics are hard to ignore. With a genetic predisposition, it seems to take less exposure to mood altering substances to develop a dependency. It's like when you have genetically light complected skin. It takes less exposure to sunlight to become sunburnt. The only 100% way to prevent sunburn is not to be exposed to sunlight.


There is also considerable research available about teenage alcoholism. Since some people start drinking as pre-teens, by the time they are teenagers, alcohol has become part of their physiological development. We know enough about how alcohol affect brain development to know that the earlier in life when someone starts drinking, the more significant the effects will be. With the way life can be challenging and stressful, it's hard enough to cope with problems with a normal brain, isn't it?
Dr. B