y of Americans. Again this can be attributed to a variety of reasons. The Asian American designation covers a broad range of backgrounds and ethnicities but from adolescence on Asian Americans in general have the lowest reported probability of alcohol related problems. Some factors influencing these numbers may be the tendency in Asian cultures to keep such matters private, and the fact that the economic status and high educational level attained by many Asian Americans is correlated with low alcohol abuse. The fact that many Asian Americans also live in communities with people and immigrants of the same background may reduce the acculturation aspects of increased alcohol use and abuse (Makimoto, 1998). On a different note, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are a particularly interesting study in this arena because they are the only ethnic group that has been found to have a proven genetic trait that may account for their comparatively low levels of alcohol consumption (Makimoto, 1998; Thomasson, and Li, 1993).Genetic Aspects of Alcoholic TendenciesAlcohol is broken down by the body in a catabolic process requiring two enzymes. The enzymes are called alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). The first enzyme changes alcohol to acetaldehyde and the second enzyme converts that acetaldehyde to acetate. If the second enzyme, ALDH does not adequately perform its role of transforming the acetaldehyde to acetate the body responds with a series of uncomfortable reactions. These reactions include flushing; a reddening of the face and torso which is caused by an increase of blood flow to the skin. Sometimes with the flushing comes rapid heartbeat, headache, nausea, drowsiness and hypertension (Makimoto, 1998; Thomasson and Li, 1993). This reaction is not common to all people and is most often found in people of Asian descent. The reason for this selection for Asian people is not concrete but its cause is known: ...
