Are you born an alcoholic?

Question

I know there are some that just become alcoholics, but arent there some no matter what they do when they drink they will become one?

Answer 1

loool u gave me a right laugh my friend. lol naa i dont think anyone is born an alcoholic, i think its more of a choice. for example me, i'm addicted to coke and fanta and not an alcohol kinda guy. this might be a problem if i'm married and haviing those tough nights lool doubt it though but just refrain from it and indulge in other things apart from drinking. its not all its cracked up to be you know

Answer 2

I'm not sure...some people are more inclined to addiction in anything than others.  

Answer 3

Let's answer the first question first.  Are you born an alcoholic?  No, but you can be born with a predisposition (genetics) do become an alcoholic or addicted.  I have have 3 alcoholic grandparents and a father who is an alcoholic (yet I never saw him drink). The likelihood that I would be an alcoholic if I started drinking is greater than the general population. Had I known that I carried such a family history it may have changed some decisions on my part.  However, what family proudly speaks of their alcoholic parents and grandparents (except on Jerry Springer).  I did drink and I am an alcoholic (now happy and sober several years). To answer the question about responsibility vs. disease from another post; there are real physiological changes in the brain that take place with an addiction (be it alcohol,drugs,s*x, gambling etc) that affect the way neurotransmitters are utilized in the brain. If there is a family history of alcoholism or addiction I would be very careful. Likewise, even someone who has no history or genetic tendency towards addiction can become addicted simply because of repeated exposure to powerful drugs (for example, someone taking an opiate type pain medication from a long term pain problem, back injury etc). Regardless of their tendency, addiction is possible. Best of luck.

Answer 4

No.There is no such thing.You are an alcoholic only if you want to be.It is a choice.It is not a disease.If it is anything it is mental,an unwillingness to be responsible.You are a drunk by CHOICE.

Answer 5

no. no one is born an alcoholic. its all about mind over matter. if you think heavily that you'll become an alcoholic you definitely will.

Answer 6

No.  However, certain groups of people do seem to fall prey to alcoholism more readily once they experience the stuff. Alaskan natives appear to be uniquely susceptible to alcohol's deleterious effects...

Answer 7

im not a big alcoholic i drink on weekends sometimes and i like to party  

Answer 8

If you don't start drinking, you can not become an alcoholic.  My kids father, his father and his father are all alcoholics.  I teach my boys not to start.  I don't believe you are born an alcoholic, and am not in the belief of the alcoholic gene.  I think it's environmental and personal choices that make an alcoholic.

Answer 9

no one knows yet .not even at AA

Answer 10

idk

personally i think tht its a choice.

if u dont wanna be an alcholholic then dont drink.

if u wanna risk it...

then drink.

but idk i hope tht helps....

Answer 11

A person can have a genetic predisposition toward alcoholism or other addictions.  That doesn't mean they'll become addicts necessarily.  Look to your family history.

Answer 12

no it just depends on your personality and what you saw around you while growing up as a small kid

Answer 13

We don't know enough about this yet.  I think as a society we view things that are negative as predetermined and unavoidable (as in the context of God's plan... as absurd as that actually is), while positive things took personal effort and show character.

For example, nobody says they were born to be a lawyer, lawyer, or senator.  But most people would like to say they were born to be an alcoholic, cancer patient, or criminal.

I believe that homosexuality is different, however.  Most people tend to agree that they were indeed born to be homosexual, and it makes some sense in terms of other species.  For example, some species of monkeys are homosexual and they care for the children of heterosexual monkeys.  Think of it as a redundancy for when parent monkeys die.  Of course, this doesn't work with the US society, but look up the Hijra in Indian culture (basically homosexual men, but are classed as a third gender).

All trustworthy research done on alcoholism though seems to indicate that you are more likely to be an alcoholic if you have ancestors who were.  But this is far from a guarantee, ultimately I think that people who have something going for them in life will be able to stop and look at what's going on, or are lucky enough to have friends willing to make them stop and look.  If you really don't have much going for you, it becomes easy to keep drinking aimlessly, and with a genetic component, you really don't want to stop.  But, how many of these people end up getting sober?  The fact that they can points to a disposition rather than a 'fate.'

Answer 14

no

my kids drove me to drink

Answer 15

Children are the product of their parents.  If one of the parents is an alcoholic, that child would have a greater change becoming an alcholic if he were to drink and continue to drink.  If the child tried  a few beers and hated it and never drank again wouldn't make him an alcoholic, would it?  I think its a gene that is passed on, but every person has the choice.  

Answer 16

If you mean the ability to be addicted easily to anything, then yes.

If its based on depression, then its different.

Answer 17

There's a predisposition for it if its in your family.