Video Length: 3:13
Transcript:
[Jack Stein talking] This year we’re doing something really interesting and new. We’ve asked for some of you to record some key questions you have about drugs and alcohol and send them to us, and we’re going to answer them with a live feed from a scientist right here. So, let’s go to our first question, which is from Bryce. [Bryce speaking] I was wondering why some people become dependent on alcohol. [Jack Stein talking] Bryce’s question was a terrific one, to answer it--and it’s all about dependence on alcohol-- we’ve got a specialist here. And we’ve got Dr. Aaron, who’s with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. And Dr. Aaron, thanks for being here. [Aaron White speaking] Thank you, it’s my pleasure. [Jack Stein talking] Bryce asked a really important, interesting question, which is, why do some people become dependent or addicted to alcohol? [Aaron White speaking] I think that’s a very important question, and it’s a complicated answer. There’s several things that we know increase the likelihood that you’ll develop a problem with alcohol. Two of the most important ones are family history of alcoholism, and also how early in life you start to drink. We know that if you have a family history of alcoholism, your odds are higher of developing a problem with alcohol at some point in your life. And we know that the earlier in life a person starts to drink, the greater the odds they’ll develop a problem. So, it’s very important to understand that one of the best things you can do to protect yourself from developing a problem with alcohol is to delay your alcohol use until 21 or older. That’s about when the brain finishes developing. And so, it is a condition that can develop and affect your life in negative ways, but you can also take steps to prevent that from happening in your life. [Jack Stein talking] Great, now, so, you broke it down to two major things, your environment and also the age you start. That’s right. [Jack Stein talking] Are you saying that there’s a genetic component to becoming-- having problems with alcohol? [Aaron White speaking] Absolutely, there is a genetic component, and it’s actually pretty prominent. Particularly when you look at the age at which someone starts drinking. For instance, if you’re 14 or 15 years old and you have your first drink of alcohol, if you have a family history of alcoholism, you’ve got about a 50/50 shot that you’re going to develop a problem with alcohol at some point in your life. Even without a family history, if you start at that age, you still have about a one in three shot at developing a problem with alcohol. But the longer you wait to start drinking, whether you have a family history or not, your odds of developing a problem go down. [Jack Stein talking] OK, that’s terrific advice, Dr. Aaron. We really appreciate you being here today. I think we learned a lot in a short amount of time around what happens to people, particularly if they start young in drinking alcohol and the consequences.