* In a message dated 11-03-96, KURT ULLMAN said the following:
MF>       It's my understanding that scientists have not established a
MF>       genetic link for alcoholism (actually, I think they should be
MF>       looking for a link for _addiction_ not alcoholism), but it is
MF>       established that alcoholism and other addictions or just
MF>       addictive tendencies "run" in families.  (My brother and I are
MF>       alcoholics; my sister chose scizophrenia instead.)  This is easi
MF>       explained by family system theory, but it seems to be the
MF>       dominant theory that addictions are genetic.
KU>         There is some fairly good (although preliminary)stuff coming out 
of
KU> the genetic project here at Indiana University that indicates alcoholics 
may
KU> process the alcohol differently metabolically. Now whether that 
ranslates
KU> into a genetic inheritance of the alcoholism is still up in the air.
       Right.  Researchers are also finding brain anomalies in various
       kinds of mental disease, and as a result some people are saying
       mental disease is caused by chemical imbalances in the brain,
       ignoring glaring evidence that trauma preceded the onset of the
       illness.  Time Magazine had a special fall issue on health, and
       with regard to mental health started with questioning whether
       mental illness is psychological and saying the causes seem to
       be chemical.  Then in the story itself, in every case, they
       described how trauma brought on the diseases (and then
       described the brain changes).
       I don't knoow what the prevailing theory is today, but it has
       long been thought that most alcoholics weren't born that way,
       that they developed a dependence on alcohol, which gradually
       turned into a physical need for alcohol.  Many alcoholics
       describe this metabolic difference you mention as coming on
       gradually over a period of years.  It's quite common for an
       alcoholic to start his/her drinking career with a hollow leg,
       and years later find himself/herself getting high on just one
       or two drinks.
       I think they're going to find in many areas that diseases cause
       these physical changes rather than genetics.
       I don't think they'll ever find a link for alcoholism per se,
       but maybe a link to addiction in general.  I don't see any
       difference between my drinking addiction, my reading addiction,
       my computer addiction, and my neighbor's addiction to heroin.
       I hope they do find a genetic link, 'cause then in a few more
       years they'll be able to use genetic restructuring to cure the
       diseases.
       Imagine a future in which in addition to ordinary vaccinations,
       every child gets a shot to alter all his/her faulty genes.  A
       society of true equals.  Wonder what god will say to that!
        Regards,
        Mike Fitzgerald
        fitz@comports.com
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