... to grow up this way. Many of them end up having behavioral problems, becoming alcoholics, and even end up in jail. Children with alcoholic parents have a four times greater risk of becoming an alcoholic themselves (NIAAA). The factors underlying the etiology of alcoholism and dependence have not yet been conclusively determined (Reich). The first factor is whether the children of alcoholics learn the behavior from their parents and model their behaviors after them. The other side of the matter deals with genetic factors. Is it something in the genetic makeup that predisposes these children? Or is it just that they see their parents doing something, so they think it's the right way to go? Wendy Reich, Ph.D., performed and researched several studies on children of alcoholics. In the 1950's and 1960's studies stressed psychosocial explanations like the lack of a good role model, poor parenting, and even an impoverished ...

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