The Association Between Family History of Alcoholism and Individual Alcohol Dependence

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Zara Zhou
Zara Zhou

Zara is a member of the Class of 2023 at Wesleyan University from China, majoring in Economics and Film Studies. She likes film scores and has been a member of the orchestra for nine years as a cello player. After graduation, she aspires to join the media industry.

Abstract:

Drinking has always been prevalent in the United States. Approximately 95,000 people died annually from excessive drinking in the United States from 2011 to 2015, and it is the third-leading preventable cause of death (CDC, 2019). The causes of alcoholism mainly include genetic and environmental factors(True et al., 1996; Enoch, 2012). One of the risky genetic factors associated with excessive drinking behavior and subsequent dependence on alcohol is the family history of alcohol abuse (Dawson& Grant, 1998). The present research aims to explore the association between family history of alcoholism and individual alcohol dependence. Using the National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC), I choose three symptoms of alcohol dependence to represent the degree of personal alcohol dependence. Consequently, the family history of alcoholism is significantly and positively associated with the likelihood of meeting criteria for personal alcohol dependence.

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