Maltez, Fatima

Honors Contemporary English

Do Genes Dictate
Whether One
Becomes an
Addict?
By Fatima Iyarit
Maltez
Maltez, Fatima
Honors Contemporary English

Every form of addiction is bad, no matter whether the narcotic be Alcohol or

Morphine or Idealism

- Carl Jung

The Reason Why

Growing up as a Latina consuming Alcohol was very common among the adults and adolescents

over 15. The Latino culture tends to criticize one another very easily and make assumptions

about certain things. If an adult were to see a 16-year- old boy for example drinking, then women

would gossip and label that young boy as an alcoholic and would say oh he gets it from his

drunken father. This type of criticism intrigued me, which eventually led to asking myself if

genes have anything to do with becoming an alcoholic or if the ladies were just being inquisitive

about others life choices. If it is proven that genes do cause someone to become an alcoholic, can

anything be done to prevent it? Or is being an Alcoholic a choice individuals make. I guess we

will have to continue reading in order to find out.

Maltez, Fatima
Honors Contemporary English

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what
lies within us.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

When It All Began

Research has purported that Ethanol most commonly known as Alcohol has existed since the

Egyptian Era and in China and India since 3000 B.C. known as Sura; a beverage distilled from

rice. The Greeks as well invented an alcoholic beverage called Mead, fermented from water and

honey that become popular during 2700 B.C. Studies as well prove that alcohol did exist in the

United States before Columbus's expedition and encounter with new life; which proves that the

consumption of alcohol is not a modern phenomenon.

Over centuries Alcohol consumption has revolutionized the world and will continue to do so. For

example, Alcohol became a huge problem during the Temperance Movement, which eventually

led to the prohibition of alcohol in 1920. This act did not allow anyone in the United States to

consume or sell the substance from 1920-1933 until the cancellation of the act by congress in

1933. However, regardless of there being a prohibition act in place men continued to consume

Alcohol and enjoy the pleasure of it illegally as expressed by the article A Brief History of

Alcohol and Alcoholic Beverages by The Foundation For a Drug-Free World.

Alcoholism has become a huge topic of conversation among many who believe that they know

how it is caused. Some say that a persons genes are the main cause for the development of

Alcoholism; others consider Alcohol to be a drug, as expressed in the 1975 non-fiction Book

Alcoholism by Dr. Alvin Silverstein and his wife Virginia Silverstein. In the year 1985, an

article titled Alcoholism and Genetics by the psychiatry specialist Donald Goodwin, on the
Maltez, Fatima
Honors Contemporary English

other hand, stated that Alcoholism does run in families and is hereditary. Coincidentally, that

same year an article Chemical Dependency regarded alcoholism to be a disease of the

civilization, whose primary concern is secrecy.

The truth about alcohol is that it is a brain stimulate that reacts rapidly when consumed. The

2015 article Alcoholism: Causes, Risk Factors & Symptoms by Health line Media emphasized

that alcohol dependency develops when you drink so much that chemical changes in the brain

occur, that cause scenario such as drinking while driving, aggressive behavior towards others,

and addiction to occur. This means that a person's cyclic AMP-responsive element binding

protein (gene) is working additionally than what it should be.

At the end of the day, everyone is entitled to their own opinion about Alcoholism but it is our job

as readers to research and comprehend what the truth really is.

Maltez, Fatima
Honors Contemporary English

What is addiction, really? It is a sign, a signal, a symptom of distress. It is a

language that tells us about a plight that must be understood.

Alice Miller

Now to Answer The Question

Before proving whether or not genes are related to alcoholism, a person needs to know where

genes are found and how they work. Genes are found on the chromosomes of an individual and

help make DNA cells. Genes as well determine the structure of DNA in order to provide a clear

explanation of how humans are composed as explained in the Article What is genetics? by

Ananya Mandal from News Medical Life science.

After doing extensive research about the connections of alcoholism to genes I have concluded

the following.

Laura Jean Buret of the University of Washington Psychiatry department purported that in

Alcoholism there are biological and genetic predispositions, as well as environmental factors.

With these findings Buret expresses that when you see alcoholism in a cluster such as in a

family group, that that is a signal to you that even though there might be an environmental

component, perhaps it is at least worth looking for a genetic component; as expressed in the

podcast Alcoholism and Genetics; and why aren't the Pioneer Spacecraft where they should

be?

In addition, Kaitlin Browman the Associate director of Discovery Strategic Portfolio

Management indicates that ... Alcoholism is a genetic trait; In the article Alcohol and

Genetics: New Animal Models. Bowman provides a study claiming that extensive research
Maltez, Fatima
Honors Contemporary English

identified many genes that might influence responses to alcohol. The study performed was done

on animal models which can lead to new discoveries on ways to genetically modify alcohol

dependency.

Supporting Bowman's study the article Researchers Identify Alcoholism Genes by Davis

Lerche in WebMD, insights that a gene called CREB or cyclic AMP responsive element

binding protein, is considered to be an important factor involved in the tolerance of alcohol,

dependence, and withdrawal symptoms because studies demonstrate that the alcoholism gene is

"crucial" to the anxiety relief that triggers alcohol addiction. Therefore, with too little CREB an

individual's anxiety levels may rise which can lead to someone performing bad behaviors such as

consuming/ preferring alcohol; which is not good for someone who is predisposed to the

addiction.

The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, inc. stated that we all have the

genetic predisposition for addiction because there is an evolutionary advantage to that in the

excerpt titled Family History and Genetics. The article as well issued information that

revealed that our genes only contribute 50% to the risk of an addiction such as Alcoholism and

that the other fifty percent of our genes have different factors that may lead to a person

developing a normal life.

Supporting the claim, an article titled Genetics of Alcoholism affirms that Alcoholism is

approximately fifty percent attributable to genetics. Our parents are the ones responsible in

predisposing us to alcoholism and other addictions; however, that does not necessarily indicates

that a person will be an alcoholic. One major reason why people become alcoholics would be

that our hereditary behaviors interact with our environment to form the basis of our decisions
Maltez, Fatima
Honors Contemporary English

and that there are also behavioral genes passed down that could influence a propensity for

alcoholism.

In the year 1985 a write-up was done by Donald W. Goodwin a psychiatry specialist, purported

that Alcoholism runs in families and is hereditary. At the time of write-up studies done proved

that in the last quarter of the 20th century drunkard parents did indeed have drunkard

children. However, Bottoms Up Finding Connection Between Genes and Addiction a PBS

podcast expressed that there has yet to be found one genetic single DNA gene that is linked to

Alcoholism. But according to the podcast researchers have identified at least 6 genes that

impact our sensitivity to alcohol and that the risk of alcoholism is about 50 to 60 percent rooted

in our genetic codes.

In the article Alcohol consumption and Genetics by Jane Collingwood it is expressed that

genes which influence the amount of alcohol a person may consume are different from those that

affect the risk of Alcoholism. Eventually, the research done by Dr. Boris Tabakoff of the

University of Denver Colorado concluded that higher alcohol consumption in humans was

positively correlated with alcohol dependence. However, because different sets of genes seem to

influence the level of alcohol consumption, as opposed to propensity for alcohol dependence, we

are confronted with great variation in humans.

One interesting interview was done to Nancy Shute a journalist who spoke in the Podcast, Your

Drinking May be Influenced by How Much You Make, cites various studies claiming that

genetics are a huge factor in drinking influence among low-income families, which is presumed

to be caused by the stress of being poor. That is why when looking for a link between genes and

alcoholism, low income neighborhoods are a good place to begin to observe for

answers.
Maltez, Fatima
Honors Contemporary English

After proving that genes do indeed have a link to the development of Alcoholism among

individuals, additional information acquired stated the following which helped me understand

why alcoholism is developed in the first place and how it harms the individuals addicted to it.

First off Alcoholism is a disease that affects 46% of the population as expressed by the Non-

Fiction book Chemical Dependency written by David L. Bender and Bruno Leone. Bender

discusses that alcoholism is a curious disease, which does not fool everyone; however, when it

does the disease causes people to make wrong choices in life.

In addition the Article, Alcoholism: Causes, Risk Factors & Symptoms by Darla Burke,

Alcohol dependency develops when you drink so much that chemical changes in the brain

occur. These changes may be caused when a person chooses to consume more than 5 drinks a

day at least once a week or when they are going through psychological problems such as

depression, schizophrenia, or anxiety.

As mentioned before, Dr. Alvin Silverstein and His wife Victoria wrote a book stating that

alcohol is considered to be a hard drug that leads to it becoming the only and most important part

of life for certain individuals. According to Alcoholism the book, alcoholism develops

gradually and progressively, over a period of five years of more and is a far more complicated

condition than just a physical reaction of the body. In addition, alcohol has effects on the central

nervous system, which slows down the action of the nerves in our body, as well as a person's

coordination and concentration.

And to add on to the Silversteins findings alcohol causes problems in the liver to occur as

expressed by the Website Love your liver. Interestingly, the website claims that even the

consumption of one glass of alcohol may cause liver problems to occur; due to the fact that

alcohol produces a toxic enzyme called acetaldehyde which can damage liver cells and cause
Maltez, Fatima
Honors Contemporary English

permanent scarring, as well as harm to the brain and stomach lining. And as a matter of a fact

when alcohol enters the body it acts as a diuretic and as such dehydrates you and forces the liver

to find water from other sources which can lead to individuals to develop fatty liver disease,

that may cause them to die.

According to the article Environmental Factors that Can Increase Risk for Alcohol Abuse by

the Promises Treatment Centers, show studies that living in an area where many bars and liquor

stores are located tends to promote social acceptance of drinking and that African Americans

and Hispanics are more likely to over drink than the educated white men. This study proves that

the probabilities of becoming alcohol dependent are higher among those who have an easier

access to the drug.

Over the years we have heard about the influence of alcohol among teens and how it continues to

grow. According to Marissa Harshman a reporter from The Colombian Health Reporter, Alcohol

continues to be the most common substance used among teens especially in Clark County High

Schools and all over the nation. The substance has taken over and will continue to do so.

The documentary Alcohol and your Brain by the Australian Lions Drug Awareness

Foundation as well insights that Blood Alcohol Concentration is key to why we are affected by

alcohol. If a person's BLC is too high then they can develop alcohol-related diseases due to the

fact that the stomach only absorbs twenty percent of alcohol; while eighty percent is absorbed

by the small intestine, which can be fatal towards a person.

In a recent News article by Science Daily, it was proven that people with a family history of

alcoholism...are more likely to hold onto the painful memory of hangovers. Therefore, it was

concluded that all who do consume alcohol are predisposed to a hangover the following day, but

that those who do have a preexisting knowledge of Alcoholism in their families are able to
Maltez, Fatima
Honors Contemporary English

remember their hangover more lucidly. Regardless of having any pre-existing knowledge about

Alcoholism in a family, it is important to remember that Alcohol consumption levels in a person

the following morning after a night out will ultimately determine how terrible their hangover will

be.

After interviewing a Physiatrist by the name of Nicholas Athanasiou a specialist in addiction,

mood disorders, and anxiety from North Hills, California earlier this year I was able to gather

very critical information that answered the question of whether or not genes dictate if a person

becomes an addict. After cautiously and extensively analyzing the information provided, it was

concluded that not all individuals are predisposed to developing Alcoholism, Alcoholism Is more

common among men than women, Individuals are more likely to become Alcoholics if they

begin to consume the substance during their teenage years, children of addicts do have a higher

predisposition of becoming like their parents if they are not cautious; however that does not

dictate that they will become addict, measures of prevention can be taken towards Alcohol Use

Disorder, and No to this day a cure for Alcoholism does not exist; only treatment.

After surveying 100 High school students the results concluded that over seventy percent of

teens agree with the fact that Alcoholism is caused by Genetics as demonstrated in Figure 1.
Maltez, Fatima
Honors Contemporary English

Figure 1

Figure 2

In addition, Figure 2 proves Dr. Nicholas Athanasiou statement that Alcoholism is more

common among Men than women. After concluding the survey and analyzing all the data

gathered thoroughly it is clear and safe to say that an individual's Genetic mutation does have a

factor in whether or not a person becomes an Alcoholic or addict of any kind.

Maltez, Fatima
Honors Contemporary English

What makes the desert beautiful is that somewhere it hides a well.

Antoine de Saint-Exupry

The Answer

Nine months ago, an adventure commenced, thirty-five students began a journey to complete a

research project of their choice. Alcoholism seemed as an appropriate topic of research for a

young seventeen-year-old named Fatima, who believed Alcoholism had to be linked to more

than a personal choice. During the first 16 year of her life she heard that Alcoholics were those

who chose to pick up a bottle and never put it down, due to personal issues.

Soon the young lady realized that she was lied to; therefore, Fatima chose to ask herself I

wonder if genetics have anything to do with Alcoholism? Approximately, five months later

Fatima and her colleagues commenced their research. Fatima without hesitation contacted a

psychiatrist specialized in addiction, anxiety, and mood disorders in order to answer a few

questions lingering in her mind about Alcohol addiction and its link to genes.

After doing vast research the young ladies findings concluded that Alcoholism is linked to being

a genetic problem in certain people. Alcoholism itself is a disease that may affect anyone who

often consumes the substance as studies performed by the National Council on Alcoholism and

Drug Dependence, INC has concluded. After carefully performing a countless number of

experiments, scientists have stated that various genes link to Alcoholism and not just one specific

gene as many suppose. The truth about Alcoholism is that it will harm those who allow it to do
Maltez, Fatima
Honors Contemporary English

so; as it is a disease that can only be caused by the actions made by an individual. It is ultimately

up to the addict to dictate whether they continue in the path of destruction or take action and

shape their life for the better.

Urell, Bill. Is Alcoholism Passed Through Genes?: Foster Link, 2013

Maltez, Fatima
Honors Contemporary English

Every noble work is at first impossible.

Thomas Carlyle

The Resources Used To Answer the Question

Australian lions Drug Awareness Foundation Incorporated. Alcohol and your Brain. 2010.

Documentary

Dr. Alvin Silverstein, Virginia B. Silverstein, and Gail Gleason Milgram,Ed.D. Alcoholism. J.B
Lippincott: New York, 1975

Burke, Darla. Alcoholism: Causes, Risk Factors & Symptoms . Healthline Media: San Francisco,
2015. Scholar.

N/A. Genetics of Alcoholism. Addiction Center, Guiding you from Rehab to Recovery: Orlando,
FL Article (2017)
https://www.addictioncenter.com/alcohol/genetics-of-alcoholism/

Collingwood, Jane. Alcohol Consumption and Genetics. Psych Central: Massachusetts, 2009.
Article.
https://psychcentral.com/lib/alcohol-consumption-and-genetics/

Goodwin, Donald. Alcoholism and Genetics. JAMA Psychiatry: (1985). Scholar

Beuret, Laura Jean. Alcoholism and Genetics; and why aren't the Pioneer Spacecraft where they
should be?. Scientific American, 2007 Podcast
https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/98d29c91-e7f2-99df-310d5d545b29ff8a/

Browman, Kaitlin. Alcohol and Genetics:New Animal Models.Sciencedirect, 2001 Scholar

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S135743109901480X

Schuckit, Marc. Bottoms Up Finding Connection Between Genes and Addiction. PBS
Newshour: San Diego (2014). Documentary/ Video
Website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhu65ilreO4

David L. Bender & Bruno Leone. Chemical Dependency, Greenhaven Press:St. Paul, MI, 1985.
Print
Maltez, Fatima
Honors Contemporary English

Harshman,Marissa. County Youth Report Show Reduction in Drug, Alcohol Use. The

Colombian Health Reporter. (2017)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2017/mar/18/county-youth-health-report-reduction-drug-use/

N/A. Environmental Factors that Can Increase Risk for Alcohol Abuse. Promises Treatment
Centers: 2012 Article.
https://www.promises.com/articles/alcoholabuse/alcohol-abuse/

N/A. Family History and Genetics,NCADD.inc, New York, April 25th, 2015, scholar
https://www.ncadd.org/about-addiction/family-history-and-genetics

Davis Lerche, Jeanie. Researchers identify Alcoholism Gene. WebMD: New York, NY,
2004.Article.
N/A. Alcohol. Love your Liver: Australia. Article
http://loveyourliver.com.au/alcohol/

Research reveals how familiar history can affect your memory of hangovers. Science Daily.
Keele University, 2017 News
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170320143111.htm

Mandal, Ananya. What is Genetics? News Medical Life Sciences:2013. Print.

http://www.news-medical.net/life-sciences/What-is-Genetics.aspx

Shute, Nancy. Your Drinking Habits May be Influenced By How Much you Make.
NPR:Washington DC, 2015. Podcast.
http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/03/17/393554628/income-affects-how-genes-
play-a-role-in-drinking-problem