Like Parent, Like Child? Considerations on Intergenerational Transmission of Alcoholism

Alcoholism is an important socio-economical problem in contemporary society given that it could result in loss of human lives, increased medical care costs, loss of workforce and increased criminality. In this study the authors analyzed the factors which may determine or facilitate the intergenerational transmission of alcoholism. To this aim the authors performed a literature search on this topic in the electronic database PUBMED using adequate keywords. The results demonstrated the intergenerational transmission of the alcohol consumption and the consumption patterns. The transmission mechanisms are complex and have a multi-factorial determination in which both genetic and family factors are involved. The authors underline the importance of the psycho-social intervention at the family level for the interruption of the vicious cycle of intergenerational transmission of alcoholism, without neglecting the social context in which the family is situated.