The relationship between addiction and genetics

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THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ADDICTION AND GENETICS
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Addiction creates drug-dependent neural pathways
in the brain. Such rewiring is damaging and
addicted people must learn coping strategies to
prevent relapse. According to the National
Institute of Drug Abuse, most drug users are
seeking the pleasure effect of dopamine when
they abuse drugs. The rewiring of the brain is
actually its response to getting large amounts of
dopamine from the drug use. Eventually, the brain
produces less dopamine and an addicted person
craves more of the drug in an attempt to raise
dopamine levels.
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Addiction is an age old diseases

• At the core of the general human propensity for
  addiction is our collective taste in what we eat.
  A million or so years ago, early humans developed
  a taste for certain foods. Those who chose the
  most nutritious food succeeded in propagating
  while those who chose less nutritious food did
  not succeed.
• Addictive behavior is an echo of this preference.
  Unfortunately, people in the 21st century have
  almost all of their needs met by society, so the
  brains desire for pleasure sometimes drives a
  person to try and/or abuse something addictive.

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Why addiction is partly genetic

• Addiction, like heart disease, can be passed
  along in families. According to the National
  Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, twins
  who grow up in separate households show the same
  predisposition to addiction and addictive
  behaviors.
• A specific addiction genehas not been discovered.
  Predisposition to disease or mental illness stems
  from a combination of genetic, environmental, and
  biological factors.

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All is not lost

• Despite the fact that about 50 percent of the
  underlying cause of addiction and addictive
  behavior is genetic, there is hope. People with
  a prominent A1 allele (a gene mutation) of the
  dopamine receptor gene DRD2 will use cocaine more
  often that those who dont have the predominant
  allele. The lack of certain serotonin receptors
  makes people more susceptible to heroin or
  cocaine use.
• However, Dr. Glen Hanson sums it up as follows
  Just because you are prone to addiction doesnt
  mean youre going to become addicted. It just
  means youve got to be careful. Remember, the
  other 50 percent of addiction is due to
  environmental causes, which means a person has
  control .

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There is also encouraging research taking place
in Utah that shows some genes contribute to
addiction, and some genes may help control or
even eradicate it from drug users.. As scientists
discover each new link between certain genes and
addiction, they can use the information to
create new drugs and other treatment options to
help control any addiction associated with that
gene.
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