The Biological and Genetic Vulnerability to Alcoholism - Coursework Example

Running head: THE BIOLOGICAL AND GENETIC VULNERABILITY TO ALCOHOLISM The Biological and Genetic Vulnerability to Alcoholism Insert Name Insert Affiliation Abstract Alcoholism is a terrible disorder and it is one in which not only the drinker is hurting themselves but those who care about them as well. In recent years there has been an abundance of research that has been done and is still being carried out which details various reasons as to why some people become alcoholics and others do not. Geneticists claim a great deal of it has to do with the family history while biologists and physiologists declare that it has more to do with the control of the receptors in the brain. There are a wide variety of reasons but no easy solutions to prevent it or to treat it. This research will be exploring several studies on alcoholism. The main goal is to bring a more concise, comprehensive view into the genetic reasons for its occurrence as well as biological factors involved. Researchers hope to find an early intervention plan that will dissuade people from becoming heavy drinkers and then facing the affliction of alcoholism. Early prevention is the essential means to prevent this common trend among people in society and the way to do this is through extensive studies and documenting the facts, as this research presented here will attempt to do this to allow for a more thorough explanation of the disorder. The goal of this research is to gather the most legitimate and reliable information for validation of what the main areas involving alcoholism really are. The Biological and Genetic Vulnerability to Alcoholism Alcohol affects everyone who has been associated with drinking in various ways, be it at a party, the local pub, or alone. Although anyone who drinks can get a so called ‘drunken euphoria’ from consuming alcoholic beverages, the disease of alcoholism is not as simple to determine in society. What research has found to be true is that those who have a family history involving the disorder of alcoholism are highly susceptible to the affects of alcohol within the receptors of the brain. This places them at a higher risk of becoming an alcoholic than it does others who drink but yet no when to limit themselves (Yale University 2004). A study that was carried out at Yale University involved 45 people of whom none had any type of drinking problem. The sole purpose of the study was to try and determine exactly how factual it was that if someone had a family history of problems with alcohol, would they actually develop the same type of difficulties due to abnormalities in the NMDA receptor in the brain. What the study confirmed was that it was indeed evidenced that those with genetic involvements family wise, with alcohol, would not have the same ability to know when to slow down on their drinking compared to someone who had no prior family relationship with alcoholism (Yale University 2004). Ismene Petrakis (2004) states that, “in the right environmental and social context, the loss of a potentially important break on drinking may promote heavy drinking” (Yale University 2004). Furthermore, often in society we see people who tend to drink more and more on separate occasions. This is because the family history of genetics in alcoholism, that are passed on, may possibly develop a tolerance to the affects of alcohol, so therefore the individual has an increased desire to want to drink more in order to achieve the same drunkenness that he or she had been able to experience with only a few drinks (Indiana University 2002). In a study that was conducted on this concept, data gathered showed those with a family history of alcoholism experienced a quicker sensation from the alcohol than those who had no history of relatives who had suffered with the disorder. However, it was noted that they built up a rather quick tolerance to the first initial drinks and therefore required more alcohol to hold on to their alcohol dazed perception (Indiana University 2002). These two theorizations into the biological genetic factors of how alcoholism takes place, clearly demonstrates how hereditary can play a huge part in how alcohol affects a person. It also shows they have a higher probability of developing the disorder due to their family background. This does not necessarily mean that they will become alcoholics but what it is saying is that they are highly more vulnerable to the adverse outcomes that alcohol presents and that sometimes keeps people coming back to drink more and more and before they realize it they have become an alcoholic. Personality Traits and Alcoholism There are quite a few areas to bring into this literary research and another good example is on the different characteristics and traits of an individual’s personality. Alcoholism and heavy drinking can stem from the simplest of issues in the scope of personalities. For example, it is widely known that those who smoke often do so because of some personal flaw they carry, even though they often don’t realize this. It could be peer pressure early on, or a weak self esteem, the same holds true for the idea of alcohol. Both of these could be done because of nervousness or even agitation or simply wanting to belong and everyone is doing it. These are all personality traits of people and they make up the individual identity which helps in determining who will possibly become affected by the disease of alcoholism. Commonly, it is recognized that heavy smokers are sometimes heavy drinkers as well, though this is not a 100 percentile. Another example of personality traits and alcoholism is in regard to an experiment that was done some years back and was titled, ‘The Sweet Test’ (University of North Carolina Medical Center 1998). This study was originally carried out on a group of experimental rats. The results from it depicted that intake of sacchrin was able to precisely show the exact amount of alcohol intake among the rats. It was found that rats who craved the sweet solutions also were the ones who favored drinking alcohol when presented to them. Later this same study was carried out on humans who drank alcohol and also on those who did not. The findings proved to be very similar to the ones with the rats. People who consume large quantities of alcohol prefer the sweetest of the sugar solutions whereas the latter do not. However, this theory alone will not specify who exactly has a higher probability of suffering with alcoholism but a certain personality type intertwined with it would (University of North Carolina Medical Center 1998). Kampov-Polevoy (1998) stated that: “It seems that the combination of preference for the strong pleasurable stimuli (sweets) with impaired control of impulses from alcohol puts that person in trouble” (University of North Carolina Medical Center 1998). Kampov-Polevoy (1998) also claims that through the intensive research of the ‘sweet tooth’ experiment, there is a greater opportunity now present that could determine the genetic risk of this disease early on. Further tests could also be developed from this one that could provide the possibility of earlier intervention and assistance to help in changing the adverse behavior patterns of individuals and then educate them on the negative side effects of their actions and what alcohol is doing to them. This would prove beneficial in helping people in the initial stage of this disorder because the theory is that it is far less difficult to deter alcoholism than it is to try and medically and psychologically treat it when it is a common activity for someone already. Heredity Linked to Alcoholism For years the idea that hereditary factors and genetics had something to do with who suffered from alcoholism was widely questioned. As has been shown through this research, the questions that this raised lead to a large amount of studies being carried out to provide factual evidence into this theory. The University of Wisconsin, though not actively participating in an exact study of alcoholism, accidentally uncovered evidence proving once and for all that alcoholism really does have a higher risk rate for those with hereditary links and therefore can be considered a inherited disease, though not in all cases (Using: Mayo 1989). What lead to this discovery was work that had been being carried out to regulate the way cancer cells are grown, which lead to the uncovering of the phenomenon. It was found human cells also produce phosphatidylethanol which happens to be a by product of alcohol metabolism (Using: Mayo 1989). How it was discovered that human cells produce this was by adding phorbol esters and ethanol to human cells, which produced the by product previously mentioned. This has lead to further studies in order to validate the information that has already been completed. For now, the original data has succeeded in showing that those with high levels of phosphatidylethanol in their cells are prone to become sufferer’s of alcoholism as often has been found, their fathers and grandfathers before them also had. Furthermore, through a myriad of brain studies and the general impact of the environment, researchers are beginning to uncover more factors into the reasons of higher vulnerability and again heredity in the ongoing studies of alcoholism. Influential scientists are now, more than ever, pinpointing genes as the leading cause for people becoming alcoholics (Marcotty 2000). Even though there is a far better understanding of this disease now, the statistics are still high for its occurrence. In fact, it remains the most steadfast out of all the diseases and is estimated to affect 10 percent of people in the world, which is often more concurrent with men than it is women. It really doesn’t matter how far research progresses into this illness, the fact remains people are human and prone to human error and misjudgment. Therefore it can not be theorized that a simple manipulation of an alcoholic’s brain is going to snap them into normalcy again. Life just wasn’t meant to be structured like that. With regard to further evidence into the genetics of alcoholism, it was recently found that children whose maternal parents were drinkers, whether they are involved directly with their child or not, have a severe impact on the genetic development of that child. Even children, who are adopted by those who are non-drinkers but were born from heavy drinkers, are four times likelier to develop the disease of alcoholism than children of non-alcoholics (Marcotty 2000). Children who come from drinking parents already have a developed liver that can quickly metabolize alcohol. This is why in college years; young adults encounter so many difficulties with alcohol. This makes them highly vulnerable to alcohol and its effects, more so than others not genetically affiliated with the illness. In conclusion, this research has proven that many geneticists and researchers make strong, and often proven claims that family history has a very startling influence on those who have been around alcohol all their lives are those who are drinkers. It affects them psychologically, emotionally, and even in their genetic makeup, which has been mentioned time and time again throughout this research. It is considered to be genes or a variability of genes and the environment that is responsible for the disease of alcoholism and making people susceptible to it. Now researchers give an approximate percentage of 60% as being the risk for developing the disease of alcoholism for those who are genetically intertwined with it. Also, the various outward factors such as: culture, and developmental experiences, and stress, make up the other 40% of the estimated risk percentile. The treatment of someone who has become an alcoholic is very difficult to assist in a recovery program, though that is not saying it is impossible. However, once a craving for alcohol has been obtained it is hard to shake the psychological need for it. It is only through medications, in depth counseling, and psychotherapy that hopefully those recovering from the disease won’t relapse. It happens to be a vicious cycle for some people but it is also a test of will power. If you refrain from it and keep doing so eventually the thought of drinking won’t be as strong even if the craving is always there. It is all in control and mental thinking. References Indiana University (2002) Alcohol Tolerance Associated with Family History Retrieved on 2 January, 2006, from: Mayo (1989) New Discovery Links Alcoholism and Genetics Retrieved on 5 January, 2006, from: http://www.highbeam.com/library Marcotty, Josephine (2000) Research Yields Some Clues into the Nature of Alcoholism; Genetics and Brain Studies are Helping Scientists Understand the Roles of Heredity and Enviornment Star Tribune Retrieved on 5 January, 2006, from: http://www.highbeam.com/library University of North Carolina Medical Center (1998) Sweet Tooth, Personality Traits Diagnose Alcoholism Retrieved on 2 January, 2006, from: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1998/05/980521080455.htm Yale University (2004) Study Reports Genetic Susceptibility to Alcoholism in NMDA Receptor Retrieved on 2 January, 2006, from: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/10/041021084120.htm Read More