Additional Information 

Contact the following organizations if you or someone you

know needs help or more information about alcohol abuse

or alcoholism:

Al­Anon Family Group Headquarters

Internet address: www.al­anon.alateen.org

Makes referrals to local Al­Anon groups, which are support groups

for spouses and other significant adults in an alcoholic person’s life.

Also makes referrals to Alateen groups, which offer support to children

of alcoholics. • Locations of Al­Anon or Alateen meetings worldwide can 

be obtained by calling (888) 4AL–ANON (425–2666) 

Monday through Friday,8 a.m.–6 p.m. (e.s.t.) 

• Free informational materials can be obtained by calling

(757) 563–1600, Monday through Friday,8 a.m.–6 p.m.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) World Services

Phone: (212) 870–3400

Internet address: www.aa.org

Makes referrals to local AA groups and provides informational

materials on the AA program. Many cities and towns also have a local AA office listed in the telephone book.

National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACoA)

Phone: (888) 55–4COAS or (301) 468–0985

Internet address: www.nacoa.net

Works on behalf of children of alcohol­ and drug­dependent parents.

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD)

Phone: (800) 622–2255

Internet address: www.ncadd.org

Provides telephone numbers of local NCADD affiliates (who can

provide information on local treatment resources) and educational

materials on alcoholism via the above toll­free number.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Phone: (301) 443–3860

Internet address: www.niaaa.nih.gov

Makes available free publications on all aspects of alcohol abuse and

alcoholism. Many are available in Spanish. Call, write, or search the

NIAAA Web site fora list of publications and ordering information. NIH Publication No. 03–5340

Reprinted June 2012

A Family History of Alcoholism

Are You at Risk?

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

National Institutes of Health

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

NIH... Turning Discovery Into Health
             

             

               

                   

                 

                   

                     

               

                   

           

   

           

           

           

     

                   

               

                   

                   

             

                   

               

                       

                   

                   

               

           

                 

                     

               

                   

                   

               

                     

                   

             

               

                   

             

                 

               

   

                 

             

         

                 

                 

               

               

             

               

             

                 

           

                   

                 

                     

                     

I

f you are among the millions of people in this country

who have a parent, grandparent, or other close relative

with alcoholism, you may have wondered what your

family’s history of alcoholism means for you. Are problems

with alcohol a part of your future? Is your risk for becoming

an alcoholic greater than for people who do not have a

family history of alcoholism? If so, what can you do to

lower your risk?

Many scientific

studies, including

research conducted

among twins and

children of alcoholics,

have shown that

genetic factors

influence alcoholism.

These findings

show that children

of alcoholics are

about four times more likely than the

general population to develop alcohol problems.

Children of alcoholics also have a higher risk for many

other behavioral and emotional problems. But alcoholism

is not determined only by the genes you inherit from your

parents. In fact, more than one­half of all children of

 

alcoholics do not become alcoholic. Research shows that

many factors influence your risk of developing alcoholism.

Some factors raise the risk while others lower it.

Genes are not the only things children inherit from their

parents. How parents act and how they treat each other

and their children has an influence on children growing up

in the family. These aspects of family life also affect the risk

for alcoholism. Researchers believe a person’s risk increases

if he or she is in a family with the

following difficulties:

• an alcoholic parent is depressed or

has other psychological problems;

• both parents abuse alcohol and

other drugs;

• the parents’ alcohol abuse is 

severe; and 

• conflicts lead to aggression and

violence in the family.

The good news is that many children of alcoholics from even

the most troubled families do not develop drinking problems.

Just as a family history of alcoholism does not guarantee that

you will become an alcoholic, neither does growing up in a

very troubled household with alcoholic parents. Just because

alcoholism tends to run in families does not mean that a

child of an alcoholic parent will automatically become an

alcoholic too. The risk is higher but it does not have to happen.

If you are worried that your family’s history of alcohol problems

or your troubled family life puts you at risk for becoming

alcoholic, here is some common­sense advice to help you:

Avoid underage drinking—First, underage drinking is illegal.

Second, research shows that the risk for alcoholism is higher

among people who begin to drink at an early age, perhaps as

a result of both environmental and genetic factors.

Drink moderately as an adult—Even if they do not have

a family history of alcoholism, adults who choose to drink

alcohol should do so in moderation—no more than one

drink a day for most women, and no more than two drinks

a day for most men, according to guidelines from the U.S.

Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of

Health and Human Services. Some people should not drink

at all, including women who are pregnant or who are trying

to become pregnant, recovering alcoholics, people who plan

to drive or engage in other activities that require attention

or skill, people taking certain medications, and people with

certain medical conditions.

People with a family history of alcoholism, who have a

higher risk for becoming dependent on alcohol, should

approach moderate drinking carefully. Maintaining moderate

drinking habits may be harder for them than for people

without a family history of drinking problems. Once a

person moves from moderate to heavier drinking, the risks

of social problems (for example, drinking and driving,

violence, and trauma) and medical problems (for example,

liver disease, brain damage, and cancer) increase greatly.

Talk to a health care professional—Discuss your concerns

with a doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, or other health care

provider. They can recommend groups or organizations that

could help you avoid alcohol problems. If you are an adult

who already has begun to drink, a health care professional

can assess your drinking habits to see if you need to cut

back on your drinking and advise you about how to do that.