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The Link Between Genetics & Addiction

Will it one day be possible to customize our kids, ordering up offspring with specific traits and free of risk factors for certain diseases?

As geneticists make new strides, it's possible that in the near future average individuals will be able to choose what genetic traits their children receive. Boy or girl? Blonde or brunette? Tall or short? Prone to addiction or not?

Wait! What was that last option?

Scientists are already looking for an "addiction gene," a biological difference that makes one person more vulnerable to addiction than the general population. If it's possible in the future to order up offspring without a high risk of heart disease or obesity, wouldn't it follow that doctors would also be able to remove the addiction gene from a baby's DNA before it's born?

"Scientists will never find just one single addiction gene," Learn.Genetics insists. "Susceptibility to addiction is the result of many interacting genes ... Like other behavioral diseases, addiction vulnerability is a very complex trait. Many factors determine the likelihood that someone will become an addict."

While addiction is certainly more than just genetics, there are certain genes thought to be more responsible than others. Check out these study results from Learn.Genetics:

• - The A1 allele of the dopamine receptor gene DRD2 is more common in people addicted to alcohol or cocaine.
• - Increased expression of the Mpdz gene results in mice experiencing less severe withdrawal symptoms from sedative-hypnotic drugs such as barbiturates.
• - Mice bred to lack the cannabinoid receptor gene Cnr1 have a reduced reward response to morphine.
• - Mice bred to lack the serotonin receptor gene Htr1b are more attracted to cocaine and alcohol.
• - Mice with low levels of neuropeptide Y drink more alcohol, whereas those with higher levels tend to abstain.
• - Fruit flies mutated to be unable to synthesize tyramine remain sedate even after repeated doses of cocaine.
• - Mice mutated with a defective Per2 gene drink three times more alcohol than normal.
• - Non-smokers are more likely than smokers to carry a protective gene, CYP2A6, which causes them to feel more nausea and dizziness from smoking.
• - Alcoholism is rare in people with two copies of the ALDH*2 gene variation
• - Mice with the Creb gene "knocked-out" are less likely to develop morphine dependence.

Whatever genetic mix you inherit, addiction isn't a foregone conclusion. Just because your genetic makeup may put you at greater risk of addiction, it doesn't doom you to inevitably become an addict. "Environment makes up a large part of addiction risk," Learn.Genetics reminds us. And beyond all the genetics, there is one much more common trait that everyone with a drug addiction or alcohol problem has in common: At some point in time, they choose to use.

Addiction Rehab

If you or a family member is struggling with an addiction to drugs or alcohol, call The Canyon at our toll-free number. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.