Does Alcoholism Have a Big Silver Lining?

Is alcoholism a genetic condition?
Or does the alcoholic turn to alcohol as a favorite way to cope with fears, anger and guilt, because they would rather see themselves suffer from the ill-effects of this coping mechanism, than to see others feel pain?
And is alcoholism a gift, too, in that the alcoholic has the opportunity to face Realties earlier than many other people do?
Do most thus have to wait until late in years - their deathbed perhaps - to have a rock bottom time that forces them to make massive growth?