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.
It is never too late to seek help for addiction but if you wait too long the chances of irreparable damage being cause as a result of your addiction increase significantly. If you are not sure whether you need drug rehab or not consider this – if you have tried to stop using on your own and….
Many warn against the idea of beginning a romantic relationship while in rehab, as it can make it much harder for you to focus on your recovery and more likely for either individual to relapse. However, making friends during rehab can be extremely beneficial and is, in most instances, recommended for those recovering from drug….
Xanax belongs to a family of drugs known as benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines do a good job at relieving symptoms of anxiety and stress in general. Drugs in this class also carry a risk of addiction when not taken as prescribed or used for recreational purposes. According to American Family Physician, one to two percent of the….
Meth addiction can cause permanent brain damage if the disease is left untreated. Most people addicted to meth do not realize the severity of their drug abuse behavior and many do not realize that there are effective ways of treating their meth addiction. Meth Addiction and Treatment According to the Center for Substance Abuse Research,….
Drug addiction rehab can take place in a variety of settings including outpatient, inpatient, or residential settings that employ a variety of detox, counseling, behavioral, and pharmacological approaches with services to meet the multiple needs of the individual. It’s not enough to simply detox from drugs, but, the drug addiction rehab treatment, according to the….
When you’re looking to attend a rehab center for drug and alcohol treatment, finding the right one can make all the difference. But how do you know what rehab center will work best for you? Is specialized drug and alcohol treatment what you need? When it comes to rehab, anything that will make you more….
If ever there was a “silent” epidemic, suicide rates across the U. S. would most definitely qualify as no one wants to talk about this condition. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, suicide ranked as the 10th leading cause of death in 2013, which totaled out at 41,149 cases. This number amounts….
When it comes to finding drug rehab there’s definitely not much question about the availability of programs that are readily available to assist patients. What there is a major question about tends to the the intake process and what a patient can expect when they first enter drug rehab. Every program is different and more….
If you’re looking for a drug rehabilitation center to get help for an addiction to drugs or alcohol there are things you will need to take into consideration before you choose. Choosing a rehab center that has a program that calls to you is important. If you feel a connection to the group you are….
Once you’ve decided to get help, you’ve chosen an inpatient drug rehab center for your treatment needs and you’ve decided on a date to be admitted to the program you’ll have to start packing your bags for your extended stay in treatment. What do you bring? Some things are not acceptable in inpatient drug rehab….
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 that includes Right Path Rehab.
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.
