Researchers now believe that alcohol and drug addiction has a genetic component. The Kennedy family of Massachusetts is perhaps the most infamous evidence of the biological roots of alcoholism and drug use. Ted Kennedy, the democratic Senator from Massachusetts, has long struggled with an alcohol problem, as has his first wife, Joan.
Both Ted and Joan have have struggled to stay sober over the years. Their son, Patrick Kennedy, also suffers from substance abuse issues. He has previously admitted to being addicted to prescription drugs, and sought treatment for cocaine addiction when he was a teenager. Just this year he announced that he would enter alcohol rehab for yet another round of substance abuse treatment. … Continue Reading