title: Hereditary factors in alcoholism.
abstract: Being born to an alcoholic parent clearly raises the risk that a man will become an alcoholic, as shown by studies of adopted sons of alcoholic and nonalcoholic biologic parents. Being raised by an alcoholic parent, however, seems not to increase this risk. Alcoholics may possess some sort of biochemical tolerance for alcohol, perhaps based on more efficient detoxification mechanisms than those of moderate drinkers.
mesh_terms: D000300:Adoption; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics*; D003718:Denmark; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D044469:Racial Groups; D012737:Sex Factors; D012931:Social Environment