Sample of alcohol and opiate female addicts (30 patients in each group) plus control group (30 women) with no psychiatric diagnosis were questioned with the Semi-structured interview Addiction Severity Index - ASI (T.McLellan, J.Cacciola 1982).

There is a statistically significant difference among the groups compared for hereditary factors in addiction. In the group of opiate female addicts, a positive hereditary factor is present in 62.5%, in alcohol female addicts - in 50.0%, and in the control group - in 13.3%.

Alcohol addicted subjects do not differ significantly from opiate addicted subjects in terms of living with someone who has a drinking problem. However there is a statistically significant difference between opiate addicted subjects who live with someone with a drug problem (62.5%) and alcohol addicted subjects (13.3%).

Heredity is an important risk factor in addiction. A problem with chemical addiction in families of addicts, as a rule, presents as a multi-generational problem. Opiate addiction, in particular, starts and is maintained in a relationship with either a close family member or a partner.