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Comment by imglorp | Hacker News Reader

The alcoholism and poverty on Pine Ridge and Rosebud are no joke. I think there's a genetic component and a cultural component that together almost guarantee it; both drivers are exacerbated by the insular nature of their community.

I volunteered with the Habitat chapter near there. They could not build on the res because any houses under construction would be stripped of their copper wire and plumbing before they could be completed. What they really need is a big employer to set up shop there: rising tide floating all boats, etc.

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> What they really need is a big employer to set up shop there: rising tide floating all boats, etc.

The casinos on some reservations have had a positive impact. At least there is a good employer in the area for those wanting a regular life. In my opinion (as an outsider) the best thing for them is to go to college off the reservation.

There is a casino around there. But there's also the town of Deadwood a couple hours away, which is likely more appealing.

"I think there's a genetic component and a cultural component that together almost guarantee it; both drivers are exacerbated by the insular nature of their community."

You want to explain that, particularly the genetic component?

Predisposition for alcoholism is hertiable.

http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa60.htm

Given that, is there a specific genetic study saying the genetic condition is inherited in Native Americans (and I guess specifically the Lakota)?

> a specific genetic study saying the genetic condition is inherited

These studies are not really about one genetic condition that causes alcoholism, but genes or combinations that provide higher odds of immunity.

There is an a gene more dominant in parts of Asia that increases short term side effects for alcohol, reducing alcoholism.

Europe is suspected to have similar changes through genes that are less compatible with alcoholism dominating over others that might be better for most things, but not for the pickle that was the middle ages.

Why so snarky? It would be pretty surprising if there weren't a genetic component to differences in populations.

I was involved in social services in the 90's on a reservation and "genetics" was one of those fun ways for people to give up (both the alcoholic and service providers "waste of money of those people"). I'm not terribly convinced seeing how different families have gone.

I think you've hit on one of the main reasons people get uncomfortable talking about genetic explanations for behavioral differences; it starts to sound like you're saying that some groups can't be helped or that there's an implied ranking of populations. Neither, of course, follows.

As someone posted NIH below, it's not a far reach to believe some populations have this gene.

And no, it's not an excuse to give up on them, just a hurdle that needs to be overcome.

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