u r right to a degree but on the other hand if the influence is there then it is easy done. or in my case i ave done it on n off since i was 13 as a way of an escape.

Ok - a chemist and alcoholic gave a talk at a meeting I attended. This man had done considerable research into the physical aspect of alcoholism. According to this man, and other research I have read, the alcoholic's liver processes liquor quite differently than a "normal" person's liver does. Alcohol has a different and more pronounced effect on alcoholics than it has on others. Exactly how genes are organized in the system is something I am not aware of - but the tendency is inherited from the information I have read. I'm going to google this and see what I find - I'll be back.

Physiology, not psychology, determines whether one drinker will become addicted to alcohol and another will not. The alcoholic's enzymes, hormones, genes, and brain chemistry work together to create his abnormal and unfortunate reaction to alcohol. Acetaldehyde, the intermediate byproduct of alcohol metabolism, appears to be one of the major villians in the onset of alcoholic drinking.
The same amount of alcohol produced very different blood acetaldehyde levels in alcoholics and nonalcoholics. Much higher levels were reached in alcoholics.In the brain, these large amounts of acetaldehyde interact with the brain amines to create the isoquinolines. These mischievous substances may trigger the alcoholic's need to drink more and more alcohol to counter the painful effects of the progressive buildup of acetaldehyde.The weight of evidence clearly links alcoholism to heredity.
Goodwin's studies provide compelling evidence that alcoholics do not drink addictively because they are depressed, lonely, immature, or dissatisfied. They drink addictively because they have inherited a physical susceptibility to alcohol which results in addiction if they drink.

Furthermore, this evidence has profound implications for treatment. While it may be possible to teach the problem drinker how to drink in a more responsible way, the alcoholic's drinking is controlled by physiological factors which cannot be altered through psychological methods such as counseling, threats, punishment, or reward.

In other words, the alcoholic is powerless to control his reaction to alcohol.


-taken from "Under the Influence"

yep..it was worth 2 cents.

According to one article that I googled, a study was done and -"The research focused on a key gene that controls chemical signalling in the brain. Different versions of this gene may affect the balance and effect of signalling molecules and in turn help to shape individual drinking habits."

There are many articles regarding the genetic makeup of an alcoholic - and it appears to be clear that there is a genetic correlation.

Botbot - maybe you could lighten up a little - dutchess has been through a lot and she needs support right now.

Just a suggestion, you might want to "investigate"
before giving a opinon on a disease that kills on a daily basis..

I read your profile and my condolensces on your son. However I would like you to know that if quitting drinking was merely a choice, it would have never almost killed me. I didn't drive drunk or directly harm anyone physically with my drinking, only myself. I can understand your bitterness and know that anyone who has never been an alcoholic can find it easy to point fingers and pass blame. I however disagree with your two cents. I did not have control over my drinking and I never will have. I have an allergy and a physical as well as mental addiction to alcohol. So on this point we will simply have to agree to disagree.

In the doctor's opinion he stated that we have a two fold disease physical and mental. And we also came to discover that we were spiritually sick R/T our alcoholism also.

dutchessJ:
I want to apologize to you in public..
i NEVER read anyones profile and took your post at its face value..
Another member suggested that i read your profile..
I have just done that..

I too am very sorry for the loss of your son.

Sincerely
botbotcoco

Ok my 2 cents . No one who is not alcoholic can be made into a alcoholic. They may become a problem or heavy drinker but they will not loose the power of choice nor will they have the phenonema of craving. Both the obsession and the phenonemena of craving must be present in someone to be acloholic . Non alcoholics cannot make them selves into a alcoholic. End of discussion and my 2 cents. And to say one chooses to be this way is ridiculus and uninformed just plain ignorant. The acoholic has lost the power of choice but hey all this is in the BB you probably havent read one so how would you know any way

Well as long as we are apologizing I want to apologize for making a public remark to botbot that was critical in nature. Sorry botbot.

Lindajean

once you detox you then have a choice. If you choose to drink again it will pick up where it left off.

I read your profile and saw your pictures, I'me very sorry about your terrible loss.
I'm also sorry to hear about the lupus and the diabetes, I guess we alcoholics are lucky in that once we decide to surrender to the disease, we get our life back, unlike diabetes or lupus or cancer....
It is a disease and it is almost impossible to explain addiction to a non-addict. Have you tried alanon? I wish you the best.

I couldn't control being an alcoholic, i was born this way. Once i took a drink i loved it. it made me better somehow. so you are so wrong.