Native Americans aren't genetically more susceptible to alcoholism
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Re: Native Americans aren't genetically more susceptible to alcoholism
#2No shit. We took their land, killed their families and friends, and quarantined them to "reserves". Then introduced them to alcohol. What did you think would happen? It isn't genetics, it is escape-ism.
Re: Native Americans aren't genetically more susceptible to alcoholism
#3Given that strong alcoholic drinks have been around for at most a few thousand years it seems silly to assume that any group has yet evolved any genetic adaptations.
Cultural adaptations are certainly a different question. I know of many native communities in my area (Canada) that have very specific substance abuse issues. They are tied to unique economic, sociological and even geographical* situations, but nobody takes genetic predisposition seriously.
*A typical geographic situation would be the prevalence of oxycodone over alcohol in northern communities. Pills are smaller/easier to transport by air than liquids.
Re: Native Americans aren't genetically more susceptible to alcoholism
#4Of course it's not genetic, it's environmental.
Re: Native Americans aren't genetically more susceptible to alcoholism
#5Given that strong alcoholic drinks have been around for at most a few thousand years it seems silly to assume that any group has yet evolved any genetic adaptations. Cultural adaptations are certainly a different question. I know of many native communities in my area (Canada) that have very specific substance abuse issues. They are tied to unique economic, sociological and even geographical* situations, but nobody ta…
Lactose tolerance is believed to have developed in the last 5,000 - 10,000 years. There was recently a news story about the Inuit having an adaptation that is at most 20,000 years old [1], and probably unique to them. The deeper we dig into genes the more stuff like this we'll find.
It wasn't a silly theory. It may be wrong, but it wasn't silly.
[1]: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/22/science/inuit-study-adds-t...
Re: Native Americans aren't genetically more susceptible to alcoholism
#6No shit. We took their land, killed their families and friends, and quarantined them to "reserves". Then introduced them to alcohol. What did you think would happen? It isn't genetics, it is escape-ism.
Of course that is a component, but no one was sure if it was the whole story. Now we know.
Re: Native Americans aren't genetically more susceptible to alcoholism
#7No shit. We took their land, killed their families and friends, and quarantined them to "reserves". Then introduced them to alcohol. What did you think would happen? It isn't genetics, it is escape-ism.
This is the story of all humanity up until the last couple of centuries. Tribes, countries, empires killing and conquering. It's not a uniquely American phenomenon. It's still happening in many places today.
I think we need to stop leaning on past atrocities (without endorsing or excusing them in any way) as an excuse for not being responsible adults in the here and now. We can't change the past, we can only live the best life we can going forwards.
Re: Native Americans aren't genetically more susceptible to alcoholism
#8> Rates of all types of addiction — not just alcohol — are elevated in aboriginal peoples around the world, not only in America. It’s unlikely that these scattered groups randomly happen to share more vulnerability genes for addiction than any other similarly dispersed people.
This isn't sound science. Just look at a map of lactose tolerance and you will find that people not exposed to milk-producing livestock until recently are much more likely to be lactose intolerant.
Convincing research would look for genetic markers directly -- or perhaps look at alcoholism amongst children adopted across cultures.
Re: Native Americans aren't genetically more susceptible to alcoholism
#9[deleted]
Re: Native Americans aren't genetically more susceptible to alcoholism
#10I'd be interested in hearing from, say, a biologist or a medical doctor, too. But the article only interviews academics from social work and psychology.
I'd like to see some links to research on genetics. The article links only research on environmental factors in addiction.
The article's conclusion may well be right, but it's not convincing if you don't agree with the conclusion before reading it.