CarolD

My non drinking religious parents had 2 children.
Both my younger brother and I slid into alcoholism
and then successful long term recovery.

I never saw a person take a drink of alcohol
until I did it myself at 14.

...Go figure

When discussing genetics...
recessive genes obviously need to be considered.

bugsworth

It would seem that this is true. I didn't start drinking until I was in my mid 20's...I always shied away from it, always aware of the danger. By the time I was 30 I was in it's grip.

Goldfish

My parents aren't alcoholics. Only connection is a great uncle who was when he got back from war.

Pixy1

My dad stopped over 20yrs ago with the help of AA. My mum continued to drink and died 2006.
My dad's sister is also a drinker as was their father.

BUTTERFLY-7

My Whole Family From Both Sides Were Alcoholics
Except My Father Mom My Grandma she was very Religious
But my Grandpa He was and alcoholic,My fathers sisters were Down Low Undercover Drinkers,My Father Nieces, 7 Nephews,lost
my cousin over and over dose of heroin,

My Mom forget it she was number one Alcoholic even
Do she denies it till this day and her sisters forget it
there were party goers only my Mothers Mom my Grandma
Didn't Drink How Funny it is tha Both My Grandmas
were the only ones that Didn't Drink they try Keeping the
Family together My Moms Father my Grandpa womanizer
and And Alcoholic Poor Grandma he will put her trough so much
hell, he Die in My Country

My Brothers from my Moms side, only two out of 4 Brothers, and me turn out to be Alcoholics, and Drug Addicts,Lost My second
Youngest Brother he was so Drunk coming out of a Bar
Got into and argument with some people at the local Bar
and they waited and Bat him down and left him there to Die
and trough him to the street and a car ran him over just few
weeks from his wife giving birth to his only child

so Yeah a pretty screw up family then out of my three foster parent
two of them were drinkers and the list Gos on and on

DSodaNow

Dad - Active Alcoholic
Mom - Non Alcoholic (big codie though)
Sister - Non Alcoholic Codie
Step Mother - Active Alcoholic/Addict
Both Grandfathers - Alcoholic

My personal take on my family is that it is passed thru the genes, but it seems the bigger Codies end up with alcoholism. I still wonder whether or not I would have been alcoholic if I didn't have the codependency issues I do. But it is what is now.... no looking back.

tennis71

I think it is a good question.

Both my parents are non A's. I also have a brother who is a non A.
None of my grandparents were A's.
I do have 2 uncles that are A's, 1 is blood relative and the other is not.

Klynn33

Father - alcoholic, but sober for 7 13 years now........
drugs and alcohol run rampid through the rest of my family though.

be chucking out the next reunion invite I think...

flgirl

Neither of my parents were alcoholics... I understand that 2 of my uncles were on my dad's side, as well as an aunt on my mother's side.

Klynn33

I just re-read my post - hahahaha. he hasn't been sober for 713 years now.......it was 13. adding and typing at the same time I guess.

colagirl

My mom is an alcoholic, sober for about 16 months.
I think my dad has some addictive tendencies (particularly toward gambling), but nothing completely out of control.
My younger brother has had many issues with alcohol (been in the hospital for poisoning a couple of times, got banned from his high school graduation ceremony) and has decided to stop too.

NOMOMERLOTMAMMA

Mom, alcoholic, died at 57 11 years ago.
Dad, drinks a lot of wine..not really sure that he has a problem.
Grandpa and Grandma on Mom's side alcoholic.
I have many cousins who drink alcoholically whenever I see them.

I"m not sure bout the genetics..my sister does not have a problem with alcohol. However ,I think growing up with an active alcoholic does skew your thinking..ie, when things get crappy..head for the beer. When there's a celebration, everyone get a good buzz on.

Interesting thread..thanks!

gravity

Mom - hardcore alcoholic - sober 18 years now
Dad - occassional binge drinker - not an alcoholic I'd say - passed away last year, sober 23 years
Sister - very light drinker
Half-brother - weekend drinker

On my mom's side of the family - severe alcoholism - rampant
On my dad's side - not an issue

tellus

I've heard vague mention of a great-uncle who might've had a drinking problem... Besides that, I think I'm the first in the family. No drug/gambling/overeating problems in the extended family, either.

ETA: Though now that I think about it, my mother's first husband was a drug addict. Hmm.

Toomutch

Paternal side was Dad, Aunt and Grandfather
Maternal side was my Grandfather and all of his 7 siblings.
My sister and half brother.

LogCabin

Dad, alcoholic/addict...sober 30 years next February
Mom, Alcoholic...not sober, but has learned to control her drinking (never has more than 2 drinks, and does not drink everyday). But can get mean and red faced after one drink. Major Rage-aholic. She drank heavily when I was a teen. Not fun.

None of my 4 grandparents drank/drink.

Maternal great grandpa had a major drinking problem. And drank a shot of whiskey every day until he died at age 94. (He would have drank more, but was bed ridden for the last 5 years of his life.)

three uncles have alcohol problems (Mom's Brothers)

I am an alcoholic/addict.

My 15 year old son is showing signs of having problems.

scaredykat

My Mom, Dad, and Sister are not alcoholic. Just lucky me. But a lot of dysfunction in our family.

But My Maternal Grandfather died from alcoholism in his 50's. I never met him.

I also have a bunch of Uncles and cousins on both sides that are alcoholics.

Barb

Cathy31

Father - untreated/acknowledged bi polar & I think alcoholic, although stopped 10+ years ago
Mother - enabler non drinker
Uncle - serious bi polar
Grandfather Father's side alcoholic
Aunt Fathers side alcoholic
Sister addict (recovery)
brother 'functional' alcoholic
sister 'functional' alcoholic
Me - in recovery thank God.

So, as with some mental illness and alcoholism rampant in my family!

What a miracle that through all of this, I have found a solution through God and AA to get clean and sober - and to love and appreciate my family!

Cathy31
x

benjiboy

...adding numbers up very quickly in my head...(never my strong point) ...i'd say over 75% of us have or had at least one 'a' parent...I'd be interested to find a more thorough study of this...will look on the net.
...personally I think it is less likely genetic...more likely upbringing....a terrible legacy to pass on to our kids.
...luckily we won't be doing that! Stay strong y'all...as you say over the pond.

tellus

I almost take offense at the "nurture, not nature" argument. I had a fantastic upbringing in an academic, upper-middle-class midwestern household. Parents have been married for 30+ years now, I had great schooling, no abuse or dysfunction whatsoever. My family is in no way responsible for my alcoholism.