Are certain ethnicities more prone to addiction and substance abuse than others? I've heard people attribute their high-tolerance to their "Irish blood" or "Native American roots", is this even a possibility? drug-addiction Drug AddictionAnyone can become addicted to drugs, though some ethnicities have a stronger history of addiction than others. alcohol AlcoholThough alcohol is legal, it is a controlled substance and is very addictive. drug-abuse Drug AbuseThe rate of drug abuse varies between ethnicities, though there are more similarities than discrepancies. alcohol-abuse Alcohol AbuseMany ethnicities share a history of alcohol abuse. |
For sure! You share a lot of your addictive tendencies with your mother and father for a reason: it's all passed down through genetics. I don't know if alcohol tolerance has much to do with your genes, but I am sure various cultural differences help create ethnic consistencies in things like tolerance and mis-use/abuse (drinking-age, social norms, typical amount consumed, etc.). e.g., many Native American tribes choose to prohibit the sale of alcohol or tobacco on the reservation as a precaution. They have recognized that substance addiction and abuse is particularly hard on their people, and extra steps must be taken to account for the heightened concerns. |