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Madison Beverley

Natural Effects on Alcoholic Addiction

Alcoholism, or scientifically known as Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), is a prevalent and

globally recognized issue that has been socially accepted as a result of a person’s nurture as

opposed to nature. This concept lies misinformative to the general public and untenable in theory

when evaluating the core words that make up this thesis. It is imperative to understand that

alcoholism is scientifically classified as an addiction, and that nurture and nature answer two

different ‘why’s’ in regard to comprehending alcohol consumption and addiction. Nurture can

influence and explain the isolated action of the initial consumption of alcohol, but it does not

expound or impact the forming of the alcoholic addiction as this stems from three natural factors

of human beings. Misconceived as nurture, it is actually nature that is the influence and cause of

alcoholic addiction.

As modern research advances and access to more tools and knowledge expands,

opportunities to study alcoholism further in-depth have become accessible. Alcoholism is

interpreted as the compulsive dependency and addicted consumption of alcoholic liquor

(Merriam-Webster, n.d., para. 1). With this definition being the globally accepted one, scientists

and psychologists have steered their initial research away from asking why a person is

consuming alcohol, to asking why they are experiencing the dependency after the initial

consumption. Contrary to popular and common belief, the answers to this question lie in

biological makeup as opposed to outside influence. Studies have recently shown that the

differing, natural brain structures of humans can impact predisposition to alcohol addiction. An

example of this can be noted in the discovery that people with smaller right amygdala volume

have an increased risk of alcoholism (Hill, De Bellis, Keshavan, Lowers, Shen, Hall & Pitts,
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2001). In addition, this finding further explains the increased risk of addiction in adolescences.

The adolescent brain is still significantly developing and is impacted more greatly due to the

smaller structures. Consequentially, damage to these influential brain structures, such as the

frontal lobes, and specifically the frontal association areas, can lead to problems regarding

impulse control, inhibiting addiction (Wood, Wood, Boyd, Wood & Desmarais, 2014). The

biological makeup of humans leads a very natural and heavy role in the factors that form alcohol

addiction.

The natural genetic makeup of a human is also one of, if not the most, influential factors

in the causes of alcoholism. Genetic makeup is one of the leading causation variables in all

addiction disorders. To attest to this notion, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and

Alcoholism (NIAAA) conducted a study in 2008 examining participants struggling with

addiction to alcohol. The conclusion of this study put forth the notion that genetic material itself

was a sole contributor to 40-60 percent of the addiction (Collingwood, 2018). Furthermore, one

specific gene in particular has been discovered to have a massive impact in regarding increased

risk of alcoholism. This gene is utilized by the body to aid the movement of the gamma-

aminobutyric acid in synapses. (Crane, 2019). Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is one of the

primary inhibitory chemicals located in the central nervous system and is closely studied by

psychologists due to its impact on a variety of complex functions. Located specifically in this

area, researchers isolated three genes on chromosome-15, and of these genes, GABRG3 was

discovered to be the sole gene causing an increase of risk towards alcohol abuse (Al, 2017).

Predisposition to alcohol addiction can also be located in hereditary genes. Parents and

grandparents with alcohol addiction have been studied and witnessed passing on specific genes

to their children and grandchildren that leave them with increased risk of addiction (NIDA,
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2019). Some children are even born with alcohol dependency if their mother is excessively

drinking with their baby still in the womb. Undoubtedly, these are just three examples out of

hundreds that demonstrate the vast impact human genetics have on alcohol addiction.

Lastly, the final primary cause of alcoholism stems from the natural factor of chemical

imbalances and makeup. Hormones play a vital role in the catalyzing of addiction. Dopamine

and serotonin are two important neurotransmitters that play important roles in managing and

stimulating a person’s pleasure, well-being, and happiness. In contrast, an imbalance of these

hormones would create adverse and opposite feelings such as disdain, sadness, and depression.

Imbalances in dopamine and serotonin can leave a person predisposed to increased risk towards

addictive tendencies. These imbalances in conjunction with alcohol consumption are dangerous

due to the alcohol inhibiting the feelings these hormones normally provide (Crane, 2019). The

alcoholic addiction stems from the compulsive need to repress the negative and unwanted

feelings and sensations a person is experiencing due to the imbalance. Other drugs also inhibit

these hormones and are why alcohol can be considered a gateway to heavier, illegal drugs.

Desensitization to alcohol eventually occurs, meaning that the body becomes accustomed to

the alcohol and the inhibition wears off. Requiring something stronger to elicit that same

feeling, a vast amount of alcohol addicts will turn to drugs. The chemical imbalances in a person

are dangerous and unfortunately are very hard to control. Furthermore, hormonal and

chemical imbalances are one of the most impactful sources that lead to alcohol addiction due

to the low understanding and solutions surrounding the field.

Evidently, alcoholism is inherently influenced by nature. The biological, genetic, and

chemical structures and makeup of humans are the primary causes of the addiction itself. The
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misconception that nurture explains both the reason for initially drinking and the reason for the

newfound dependency after consumption needs to be eradicated – it only explains the first.

The scientific understanding of the natural factors that cause alcoholism needs to be globally

distributed and understood. Preventative measures can only be taken when the people are

educated and understand the risk they may be taking if they consume alcohol knowingly under

the three given predisposed circumstances. In conclusion, it is vital to take away that further

study of natural causes in alcohol addiction is imperative as too much time has been wasted

studying the nurture aspect of alcoholism. Nature is the true cause of alcoholic addiction, not

nurture.
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References

Al, A. (2017). Gene for Alcoholism is Discovered (GABA & GABRG3).

https://www.onhealth.com/content/1/gene_for_alcoholism_is_discovered_gaba_and_gabr

g3.

Collingwood, J. (2018). Alcohol Consumption and Genetics.

https://psychcentral.com/lib/alcohol-consumption-and-genetics/

Crane, M. (2019). Genetics and Addiction: Is Alcoholism Hereditary or Genetic?

https://americanaddictioncenters.org/alcoholism-treatment/symptoms-and-

signs/hereditary-or-genetic

Hill, S., De Bellis, M., Keshavan, M., Lowers, L., Shen, S., Hall, J., Pitts, T. (2001). Right

Amygdala Volume in Adolescent and Young Adult Offspring from Families at High Risk

for Developing Alcoholism. Biological Psychiatry, 49(11), 895-905,

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006322301010885.

Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Alcoholism. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved

November 10, 2020, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alcoholism

NIDA. (2019), August 5. Genetics and Epigenetics of Addiction DrugFacts. Retrieved

Novemeber 10, 2020 from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/genetics-

epigenetics-addiction

Wood, S.E., Wood, E.G., Boyd, D., Wood, E, & Desmarais, S. (2014). The World of Psychology

(7th Canadian Edition). Toronto, ON: Pearson.

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