Alcoholism

Children of alcoholics are not destined to be alcoholics too. But recent research reports about 50 percent of the risk for alcoholism is genetically determined. The environment accounts for the other risky half. The disease is considered genetically complex, meaning that several genes come into play and they can affect individuals differently. 

Treatment
Alcoholism, essentially, is the uncontrollable desire to consume alcohol in a harmful quantity to drinker. The core of this disease is the desire for alcohol, there are times this is accepted, but never got a psychoactive substance that inhibits such desire. As evidence that numerous failures did not discourage the researchers have now proven, or at an advanced stage of testing, three substances effective in suppressing the desire for alcohol, three drugs that reach the essence of the problem, which cut it in the bud. We're talking naltrexone, acamprosate and ondansetron. The alcoholism treatment should not be confused with the treatment of alcohol withdrawal. Because the body literally incorporate alcohol to their metabolism, the interruption of alcohol intake causes the body resent: this is called abstinence that, depending, of time and the amount of alcohol consumed can cause serious problems and even death in untreated cases. The medications mentioned above are not intended to act in this phase. Abstinence has its already well-established treatment alternatives and relatively satisfactory. The Disulfiram is a substance that forces the patient not to drink from the pen of malaise: if this is done, does not suppress the desire and leaves the patient in a bitter psychological conflict. Many alcoholics have died because they could not contain the desire for alcohol while under the effect Disulfiram. Even knowing what could happen, could not prevent the combination of alcohol with Disulfiram, could not even wait for the elimination of Disulfiram. Facts such as these serve to clinicians and non-alcoholics know how strong inclination for alcohol experienced by alcoholics, stronger than the threat of death itself. It also serves to measure the benefit brought by medications that suppress the desire for alcohol currently available. We can make an analogy to understand this evolution. Disulfiram With the patient has to make an effort similar to the driver who tries to insure a vehicle downhill, putting himself at the head of this, trying to prevent unleash the car, running over the driver himself. With new medications is the driver inside the car by pressing the brake pedal until the car reaches the end of the slope. In both cases, it is possible to reach the end of the slope (control of alcoholism). In a huge effort is causing large percentage of failures, another effort is small, allowing great treatment adherence
Prevention
There is no absolute way to prevent alcoholism. However, the strong family support and solid relationships with people who do not drink and friends can help. In general, for any type of addiction, the important thing is to never start using drugs causing addiction in question and, in the case of alcoholism, this statement is far more important for those individuals who have a history of other family members with the disease, since the question of heredity influences in greater ease in acquiring alcoholism or alcohol dependence syndrome.