The debate as to whether alcoholism is a product of nature (genetic) or nurture (life experiences and upbringing) or a blend of the two, shows no signs of abating any time soon. However, amongst virtually all professionals in the addictions field, you'll find agreement that there is at the very least, a strong genetic component to addiction in general. Some people just seem to be more predisposed or vulnerable to addiction. We have identified certain genes and markers for various addictions, and we know that this genetic factor helps the substance or addiction "vehicle" literally hijack the brain. Owing to modern technology, addiction can now be actually "seen" on brain scans.

We feel that the nature or nurture question about addiction doesn't really have to be an "either/or" question, because we look at the nature/nurture question like this: Your genes give you the "gun," but your environment, and how well you cope with your environment, dictate whether or not the trigger gets pulled. So if you inherited the genetic "gun" for addiction, and you respond poorly to your environment with poor or substandard coping and problem-solving skills, you would obviously be at risk for solving your problem by "medicating" them away. In effect, the "trigger" gets pulled.

That's why in recovery, we say that no matter what "thing" you're addicted to, the "thing" is not the problem, it's the symptom of the problem. The real problem is "how you solve your problems." And how you solve your problems is by avoiding them, softening them, or making them go away temporarily with your "medication" of choice. The commonality among an alcoholic, a cocaine addict, a compulsive gambler and someone internet chatting for twenty hours a day is that they're all avoid the ugliness of their perception of life by "medicating."

And ultimately, every time they "medicate," their brain is responding by the release of chemicals, not least among them, dopamine and seratonin. The brain becomes adapted to this, and ultimately, it's the only thing it's concerned with. The modern, or thinking part of the brain that normally says "No," "think about this for a minute," what are the consequences?" becomes compromised, and allows the ancient, impulsive "Go" part of the brain to take over.

The bottom-line? When you are dealing with an alcoholic or addict you are dealing with someone suffering from a compromised brain. If you want to call that a disease, so be it, but once they reach that stage, the normal rules of behavior, conduct and logic go out the window. Do not expect an alcoholic or drug addict to think logically or rationally about what they are doing to themselves and those around them.

http://www.allpositiveoptions.com/TheAlcoholicPersonality.htm