Apples and cheese puffs come in cat-proof containers
Dear Horrified: You cannot rewrite this family's DNA code. What you can -- and must -- do is talk to your son, very frankly, about the family history and tendency toward alcoholism. Your son is at a heightened risk for developing alcoholism.
According to a paper published by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (niaaa.nih.gov), genetics seem to determine about half of a person's risk for developing Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). Environmental factors supply the other half of the equation. Your son has both strikes against him. Make sure he understands the risks.
Dear Amy: "Working on it in the Midwest" wondered how to make amends for a drunken sexual assault he had committed in college.
This man should be made aware of the impact of this on the woman he assaulted. He should also seek to volunteer and support organizations that serve survivors.
-- Assault Survivor
Dear Survivor: Absolutely. Thank you.
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(You can contact Amy Dickinson via email: askamy@amydickinson.com. Readers may send postal mail to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or "like" her on Facebook.)
