Alcoholism News

Young people often begin drinking alcohol because of environmental factors, such as peer pressure. But genes appear to be a significant factor in determining whether drinking progresses to problem drinking and alcoholism, according to a new study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

The study of 3,546 female twins, ages 18 to 29, examined how genes and environment influence drinking at different stages of life. The researchers found that genes accounted for about 30% of the timing of the first drink and for about 47% of the speed at which women progressed to alcohol dependence. But environmental factors, overall, seemed more influential, particularly earlier in life.

"That's good news in terms of modifying these behaviors and reducing the risk of developing alcohol dependence," says the study's lead author, Carolyn E. Sartor. "Genetics are not destiny, and our findings suggest that there are opportunities to intervene at all stages of alcohol use."

"We believe it is important to identify genes contributing to AD for two primary reasons"

"We found that for women born after World War II, there are lower levels of abstaining from alcohol and higher levels of alcohol dependence, even when looking only at women who drank"

"However, we didn't see any significant tendency for more recently born men to have lower levels of abstention, or higher levels of alcohol dependence."

"The common advice given by ob/gyns is that abstinence is the safest way to eliminate the possibility of your child having FAS"

APPLETON - A town hall meeting to encourage action against underage drinking will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Fox Cities Rotary Multicultural Center, 128 N. Oneida St.

"Some of the posters of two of my not too recent films have led you to believe that there has been a grave destruction of the ethics of your campaign"

"We have identified a protein that may be a cause of alcohol dependence and tolerance, suggesting the possibility of developing a drug to inhibit the molecule and treat the disease"

But the nonprofit group is without a home now, and it could end if another location isn't found soon.

"She and I have done 16 books together, and I had done four books before that."

"I shouldn't be alive-unless it was for a reason. I finally know what I have to do."

"We think this is a very exciting way of reaching more people who may have substance use problems and providing a means of helping them learn effective ways to change their behavior"

The headline : "Absinthe's mind-altering mystery solved" The reality: Probably not.

"There is a rich argument for our side of the case"