Addiction & Genetics

Are you or someone you know suffering from an addiction to a substance (like alcohol, cocaine, crack, meth, marijuana, heroin, Vicodin, Oxycontin, or Xanax) or a behavior (like sex or gambling)? Increasingly, scientific research is pointing to a strong genetic component to addiction. Although environment certainly plays an important role in the development of addiction as well, the combination of genetic predisposition and environmental triggers may increase the likelihood that a person will develop an addiction. This article briefly highlights some of the discoveries that science has made about addiction as well as questions that are currently being studied.

What is addiction?

Addiction is a complex physical and psychological disorder that is, in part, characterized by the ideas of tolerance and dependence. Tolerance occurs when a substance user begins to need more of a substance to achieve the same high from it; tolerance may also occur in the context of prescription medicines, which is why your doctor may increase your dose. Physical dependence occurs when a person’s body has been reprogrammed so-to-speak; the body cannot function normally without the substance, and the user experiences physical withdrawal symptoms when they discontinue using. Physical withdrawal symptoms vary depending on the substance (visit the Drugs page to learn more about specific physical withdrawal symptoms). Psychological dependence occurs from overworking the brain’s reward pathways by increasing “reward” signals every time the substance is used. The person becomes addicted to the reward signal and may experience psychological withdrawal symptoms like, for example, depression or anxiety. A person may be physically or psychologically dependent – or both.

What do we know about addiction and genetics?

Researchers have noticed that addiction often runs in families. Perhaps you may see this in your own situation. Does anyone else in the addict’s family have a problem with addictive substances of behaviors? This observation was one of the first arguments for a genetic component to addiction.

One study examined substance abuse problems in children with ADHD. The results found that children with ADHD were twice as likely to use substances compared to their counterparts in the general population. Although much more research needs to be done on the topic, there seems to be an association between the genes that are related to ADHD and the genes that are related to addiction. This does not mean that all children with ADHD will develop an addiction, however.

What don’t we know about addiction and genetics?

Perhaps there is more that we don’t know than we do know! For example, science does not know exactly how many genes are involved in the development of addiction. Nor does it fully understand whether there is a correlation between specific genes and specific substances; in other words, we don’t know if there is a gene for “tobacco,” a gene for “heroin,” and a gene for “meth,” for example.

If addiction has a genetic component, can it be cured?

Most people in the medical and scientific communities believe that addiction is a chronic disorder that can be treated but not cured. In other words, treatment requires that the addict learn new life skills and healthful coping mechanisms to recognize and avoid environmental triggers that might send them back to their substance or behavior of abuse. People who have recovered from addiction can still lead successful, happy lives, but they will not be “cured” in the sense that they likely will never be able to use the substance “recreationally” or “socially” without falling back into addiction (Read Alcoholic for Life?)

How can I help someone who is addicted?

If someone you know has a problem with a substance or behavior but refuses to acknowledge it, you may need to implement an intervention (Read Intervention FAQ). However, if everyone, including the addict, already recognizes that there is a problem, your next step will likely be detox and rehab . Whatever your situation, we encourage you to contact eDrugRehab today. Our intervention and addiction specialists can help you decide on the next best step, no matter where you find yourself in the process.