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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I also have boys. We've always been very open and matter-of-fact about this sort of thing. The two biggest drivers of addiction tend to be 1) a genetic susceptibility to substance abuse - meaning check the family tree; and 2) age of first use. But, we also explained that genetics are not destiny. The brain adapts and changes according to its environment. If a 14 year old kid with a family history of alcohol or drug abuse begins to experiment with drinking and vaping and drugs and so on, that child is likely screwed and will face a lifetime of addiction issues. This is because there is so much going on in the adolescent brain that when you introduce drugs and alcohol to kids who already have a genetic predisposition to addiction, it often rewires the brain and derails normal development.

But if that same 14 year old waits until they're over 21, when the brain is more mature, then generally it will be perfectly safe to have an occasional drink or whatever. Particularly if they've grown up in a safe, loving, and supportive environment. Their family tree might be a disaster, but they won't be because they waited until the brain was more fully developed and over the years they've learned to enjoy and deal with life without resorting to substances to mediate how they feel.

Knock on wood. So far, so good. They know what addiction is and how it can destroy lives. They're both in college now and totally normal. Neither ever drank or used drugs or vaped in high school. But in college they seem to be pretty normal. The oldest has an occasional beer. The youngest doesn't like it. Neither do any drugs. They're both gym rats and runners and extremely fit. Neither has displayed any proclivity towards substance abuse. And I think that's entirely because we really explained how vulnerable they were to addiction given the family tree. And we drilled that early - like beginning of middle school. There's no avoiding drugs or alcohol in any high school. All you can give them is the information they need to make their own decisions.   [/quote]

I and everyone I went to high school with did drugs and drank in high school. My parents had addiction issues. I don’t drink most of the time as an adult. There’s no actual support for your beliefs here. Some possible slight increases in risk aren’t fait accompoli.[/quote]
Children of alcoholics are four times more likely to have alcohol addiction problems themselves. It’s not an unreasonable thing for OP to be aware of and inform their children about. [/quote]

This is true.  There have been many studies done on this and there is a definite genetic predisposition to addiction [b]and it can skip a generation[/b].  [/quote]  I partly think this is sometimes due to the child of an alcoholic being super careful themselves after all the pain and suffering they see and feel, but the grandchild doesn't get the exposure.  We tell our kids about this but I know the impact can't nearly be as strong without the ability to see their grandparent's demise.[/quote]

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