Does Genetics Play a Role in Addiction? With Dr. Fredric AbramsonDoes Genetics Play a Role in Addiction? With Dr. Fredric Abramson
Recovery Recharged with Ellen Stewart Pushy Broad from the Bronx
If I have a family history of addiction, am I doomed to become addicted? Dr Fredric Abramson, Founder at Digital Nutrition; Founder and CEO at Golden Thread Technology; Founder and CEO at AlphaGenics; Adjunct Professor at Johns Hopkins University and...
26:16•10 Jul 2024
Genes, Family History and Addiction: How Much Control Do You Really Have?
Episode Overview
- Having a genetic predisposition to addiction does not guarantee addictive behaviour.
- Environmental choices, such as social settings and daily habits, can lower the impact of risky genes.
- Epigenetics acts like a gas pedal, affecting how active a gene becomes rather than changing its structure.
- Family history includes both inherited genes and learned lifestyle patterns, each needing different responses.
- Understanding your genetic tendencies can help you make smarter everyday decisions that support recovery.
“Nothing is fated. The genome is a blueprint and it tells us what our potentials are. And the environment is the thing we control.”
Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey? This conversation on *Recovery Recharged* brings a scientific lens to questions many people in recovery quietly worry about: "If addiction runs in my family, am I doomed?" Host Ellen Stewart, known as the Pushy Broad from the Bronx, chats with geneticist Dr. Fredric Abramson, who has spent decades studying human genetics and what he calls "wellness genetics".
His focus is on how genes shape everyday life rather than just disease, and that perspective fits neatly with people trying to stay sober one day at a time. Early on, Dr. Abramson cuts through fear and fatalism.
When Ellen asks whether a parent’s addiction genes automatically pass down, he explains, "whether or not you have a gene that relates to addiction doesn't mean that you will develop the trait or the behavior of addiction." He stresses that genes are part of a complex system, and the real power lies in the environment and daily choices. You’ll hear simple metaphors that make genetics far less intimidating.
He compares genes to a car engine and epigenetics to the ignition and gas pedal: you can’t swap the engine easily, but you can control how hard you press on the pedal. This leads into practical talk about choosing social settings, food, drink, sleep, and habits that reduce the impact of any genetic risk. The episode is especially useful for people in recovery who carry guilt or fear about their family history. Dr.
Abramson urges moving away from blame, reminding listeners that "nothing is fated" and that the genome is a blueprint, not a sentence. Ellen brings it back to everyday recovery concerns like cravings, relapse risk, and the hope that genetics can eventually guide more personalised support. If you’ve ever wondered whether your DNA defines your destiny, this candid mix of science and straight talk might help you see your recovery as more choice-driven than you think.
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