In recent years, we’ve been able to learn much more about alcohol addiction and why some individuals develop it. Alcoholism affects about one out of every 12 people, and who it affects has a lot to do with common risk factors. You may be wondering, "Is alcoholism genetic?" Studies show that it can be. There’s a gene that scientists have been able to specifically link to addiction, and it can act in different ways.
It’s important to understand that although this form of addiction is genetic, it doesn’t mean a person with the gene will absolutely have issues. Genetic predisposition only means that a person is at a higher risk, but the addiction may never develop. Knowing that there’s a gene that can be the culprit behind addiction gives medical professionals the tools they need to help people sooner. This is similar to when you go to your physician and write down a family history of any other types of illnesses like cancer or diabetes.
According to researchers, if addiction runs in your family, you have about a 50% chance of developing it yourself.
It’s possible to have identical twins with the exact same genetic coding, but only one of the twins develops an addiction. This can also happen with other types of genetic predispositions due to epigenetics. Epigenetics is a very extensive subject, but a small part of it concerns a gene that is dormant in a person’s genetic coding until a certain event happens. For example, a traumatic event can be something that triggers epigenetics, which can cause a person to develop an addiction.
Medical experts have discovered the same gene associated with the disease of addiction is also associated with Parkinson’s disease. There are some families where many members struggle with the disease of addiction. In these families, it’s common for some of the members to have no problems with alcohol at all. Those who don’t develop an addiction can potentially develop Parkinson’s disease simply based on the genetic risk factor.
San Antonio Recovery Center is a drug and alcohol rehab center that can help you regain control of your life. Part of understanding the question of, "Is alcoholism genetic?", comes through education about addiction. Understanding the source of your alcoholism can greatly help you in your recovery from addiction. Many people feel guilty or ashamed about their addictions, so these answers can help give you some peace.
One major method for treating alcohol addiction is therapy. Addiction therapy is a follow-up to detox, which heals the body. Psychotherapy instead focuses on healing the mind, tackling the roots of addictive behaviors. Therapy also handles co-occurring mental disorders through dual diagnosis treatment. The types of therapy used to treat alcohol addiction can be split into the holistic approach and evidence-based modalities.
At San Antonio Recovery Center, therapies used to treat alcohol addiction include:
Our facility offers different lengths of stay to support your recovery from addiction as much as possible. You can find out more by giving us a call today at 866.957.7885.
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