 [ Symptoms ] what can you give a small dog for cough [ Disease ] some people feel that genes related to addiction can be transmitted to the offspring since alcoholism can run in families it can be very difficult to say what human characteristics are genetic versus environmental factors growing up in a family that has more than their share of alcoholism i can certainly say that it never surfaced in me i actually detest alcohol alcoholism is classified as a disease and certain characteristics in our personality can be genetically transmitted but to worry that a male alcoholic would create an alcoholic child would be a stretch at this point an alcoholic one who continues to drink would not make a good fatherhusband for lots of reasons