(To Richard and Dro)Trying to Understand...

I want to thank you both very very much for taking the time to respond to my questions. I do appreciate that deeply.

No, I am not an alcoholic. I don't drink that often, wine once in a while.

I was asking those questions because my father-in-law died in his sleep from the last stages of liver disease. This man tore his family to pieces before his death because of his alcoholism. He did four VietNam tours and he said that's why he drank. I just don't understand why he continued after the war ended.

Then there is my son. He comes from a family of alcoholics. His father and his grandparents and his great-grandparents were/are active alcoholics. None of them do AA. My son is 25 years old and he drinks. He started drinking regularly when he turned 21. Four years. I am concerned because he has three generations (in one family) of alcoholics hovering over his head. He knew (because we discussed this many times throughout his teens)and he still knows the dangers of three generations of alcoholics in his family, but shrugs it off.

This is why I asked whether alcoholism begins in childhood or whether it's genetic, what triggers it. My son had a good childhood. He's handsome, charming, funny, very kind and well liked by many, without having to drink. I asked about damage control so I could help keep my son as healthy as possible should he decide to not stop drinking and becomes an alcoholic if he hasn't already. I am very frightened for him.

I thought if I could understand more about alcoholism, what it is, how it begins and how to do damage control, I could have a better chance to be a positive support for my son.

Again, I thank you very much for your honest and caring responses and I wish you both inner fortitude, self-love, and a beautiful, bright future!
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