There is a link between drug addiction and genetics.
There is mixed evidence as to whether drug addiction is actually predisposed by the genes or not but one thing that is known for sure is that addictive behavior is predisposed. What this means is that although actually being addicted to drugs may not be genetic there are genetic factors that play a role in whether or not a person has what is known as an “addictive personality.”
Why can some people use drugs casually and not become addicted but others use just a few times and the addiction sets in? How much of drug addiction can be imposed on a predisposition that is the result of genetics? Why does addiction strike one person so much differently than it does the next?
Drug Addiction and Genetics
There is evidence that shows as much as 50% of a person’s likelihood to become addicted to a drug is genetically predisposed. What this means is that the genes play a key role in drug addiction but they do not play the only role in determining whether or not a person will become addicted to drugs as a result of recreational or casual drug abuse.
There are thousands of genes that determine everything about an individual from skin, hair and eye color to personality and cognitive ability. Of the 40,000 genes that are expressed in the part of the brain where drugs show their most profound effects many may or may not be directly linked to drug addiction. Geneticists have been researching the similarities and differences between family members who are addicts in hopes of determining those genes which are directly responsible for determining whether or not an individual will become addicted to drugs.
While evidence does suggest that heredity and genetics do play a role in increasing the likelihood of an individual becoming addicted to drugs there are many other factors that come into play as well. While addiction does tend to run in families it is still unclear how much of the disease of addiction is transmitted genetically and how much of the disease is the result of learning addictive behaviors from family or society.
Genetic Predisposition Studies
While there have been many different studies conducted to determine how much genetics do determine drug addiction some of the most profound include studies on twins and studies that have been conducted on adopted children. One study compared the alcoholism rates of both individuals who had been adopted but were born to alcoholic parents and those who were born to non alcoholic parents. Statistics show that those who were born to alcoholic parents, although they never knew their parents and were not raised in alcoholic households were as much as 3 times more likely to become addicted to alcohol themselves.
Another study on the genetic predisposition of drug addiction focused on twins. One study found that identical twins (those who share the same genetic makeup) are up to 200% more likely to suffer from alcoholism than fraternal (not identical) twins. Similar statistics have been found for other types of drug abuse amongst twins including cocaine, stimulants and sedatives.
When you enter drug rehab you will spend a lot of time with your drug counselor so it’s important that you understand who they are and how they can help you. If you don’t feel comfortable with your drug counselor than you won’t be able to get the most out of your treatment and therefore….
How Heroin Overdose Treatment WorksAccording to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, heroin is a drug synthesized from the powerful painkiller morphine. Morphine is made from the opium poppy, which is found in Asia. Unfortunately, it is a highly addictive drug. There are currently over four million people who tried heroin and many of those….
The holistic approach to medicine ascribes to the philosophy that a patient should be treated as a whole, as opposed to a carrier of specific symptoms. Holistic methods are are often very helpful to people seeking rehabilitation from drug or other types of abuse. It is often a supplement to standard care, which the U.S…..
If you have a loved one who requires drug and alcohol rehab in a medical facility, it is very important that you are a part of their addiction treatment. You can support your loved one by visiting them at the facility or taking them to and from their treatment every day, but it is also….
Anyone who’s lived through a natural disaster, the death of a loved one or a violent attack well knows the degree of emotional turmoil that comes from these types of events. While some people eventually get over difficult life events, others may become emotionally stuck inside the trauma-inciting incident. When this is the case, post-traumatic….
Addiction to Xanax is possible, and those who become unable to control their use of the drug should attend Xanax rehab. In a rehab treatment facility, you will be given medication and attend behavioral therapy in order to recover from your Xanax addiction. What Happens on Your First Day of Rehab? First, after you choose….
If someone you know is addicted to one or more types of prescription drugs, they should attend formal drug rehab. You may not be sure whether or not your friend or family member is truly addicted, but by making some careful observations, you can usually see if they have a severe problem. If they do,….
Each rehabilitation center should be accredited by at least one agency and should have a remark by the Council on Rehabilitation Education. These agencies make sure that the rehab facilities perform and render the basic standards of care. When you are seeking at treatment program it is extremely important that the facility you choose is….
If you or a loved on is addicted to drugs and needs help you should be prepared to ask many questions when you are trying to choose between the various types of treatment for addiction that are available to you. Whether you are looking for inpatient drug rehab or a less invasive outpatient drug rehab….
You may have discovered your child has an addiction to drugs or alcohol or they may have come to you with that information. No matter how you discovered the truth, you are probably still reeling from it and trying as quickly as possible to find a way for your child to get sober. Of course….
Calls to numbers on a specific treatment center listing will be routed to that treatment center. Calls to any general helpline will be answered or returned by one of the treatment providers listed, each of which is a paid advertiser.
By calling the helpline you agree to the terms of use. We do not receive any commission or fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a caller chooses. There is no obligation to enter treatment.
