Can Addiction Be Genetic?

Millions of Americans have substance abuse disorders and addiction, along with the significant consequences they cause. Once considered a moral failure or “weakness,” today, addiction is recognized as a complex disorder influenced by many factors — including your genes.

With locations in Glendale and Phoenix, Arizona, The Marcann Group is a leading provider of addiction treatment. In this blog post, our team offers a brief overview of the genetic component of addiction and how researchers are developing a new understanding of addiction that could help with future treatment.

Genetic connections

Genes make us who we are. The National Library of Medicine defines genes as “the basic physical and functional unit of heredity.” Composed of DNA, we inherit our genetic “footprint,” and those genes combine in varying ways to give us our unique traits. Some genes also influence our behaviors, including how we respond to situations and how susceptible we are to specific conditions and diseases.

Researchers have recently examined the connection between genetic makeup and susceptibility to addictive behaviors. Much of that research has centered on genes responsible for producing and regulating dopamine — a neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of pleasure. Studies show those genes are far more active in people prone to addiction, meaning those individuals may also be more likely to exhibit addictive behaviors and have difficulty with impulse control.

Other genes have been identified in association with specific types of addiction, including opioid and alcohol addiction. For instance, the opioid receptor gene OPRM1 may make a person extra sensitive to the effects of opioids, increasing the risks of addiction to opioids, alcohol, and smoking.

Still, other genes may alter the way a person’s body uses substances like drugs and alcohol, increasing the risk of dependence and addiction. For example, the ADH1B gene has been shown to interfere with the metabolism of alcohol, increasing the chances of both alcohol abuse and some alcohol-related cancers. 

Environment matters

While genes may play a role in substance abuse and addiction, many other factors are also involved. Substance abuse disorders and other addictive behaviors, like gambling addiction, can be influenced by a person’s past or present environment, stress, and traumatic experiences. For example, some traumatic experiences can shape a person’s neural pathways, which influences their responses to future stressful triggers.

The availability of addictive substances can also play a role in addiction, along with exposure to chemicals and some illnesses and infections. Exposures during the developmental years or before birth may also influence genes and the predisposition to addiction.

Addiction is a complex problem that requires a comprehensive approach to manage it. Many people need a combination of medications, therapy, lifestyle changes, and ongoing professional support to break the cycle of addiction and reclaim their healthy lives.

Get help for addiction

There is currently no gene therapy or medication to prevent or stop addiction entirely, but there are therapies that help. To learn how to overcome addiction and enjoy a better quality of life, book an appointment online or over the phone with the team at The Marcann Group today.

Millions of Americans have substance abuse disorders and addiction, along with the significant consequences they cause. Once considered a moral failure or “weakness,” today, addiction is recognized as a complex disorder influenced by many factors — including your genes.

With locations in Glendale and Phoenix, Arizona, The Marcann Group is a leading provider of addiction treatment. In this blog post, our team offers a brief overview of the genetic component of addiction and how researchers are developing a new understanding of addiction that could help with future treatment.

Genetic connections

Genes make us who we are. The National Library of Medicine defines genes as “the basic physical and functional unit of heredity.” Composed of DNA, we inherit our genetic “footprint,” and those genes combine in varying ways to give us our unique traits. Some genes also influence our behaviors, including how we respond to situations and how susceptible we are to specific conditions and diseases.

Researchers have recently examined the connection between genetic makeup and susceptibility to addictive behaviors. Much of that research has centered on genes responsible for producing and regulating dopamine — a neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of pleasure. Studies show those genes are far more active in people prone to addiction, meaning those individuals may also be more likely to exhibit addictive behaviors and have difficulty with impulse control.

Other genes have been identified in association with specific types of addiction, including opioid and alcohol addiction. For instance, the opioid receptor gene OPRM1 may make a person extra sensitive to the effects of opioids, increasing the risks of addiction to opioids, alcohol, and smoking.

Still, other genes may alter the way a person’s body uses substances like drugs and alcohol, increasing the risk of dependence and addiction. For example, the ADH1B gene has been shown to interfere with the metabolism of alcohol, increasing the chances of both alcohol abuse and some alcohol-related cancers. 

Environment matters

While genes may play a role in substance abuse and addiction, many other factors are also involved. Substance abuse disorders and other addictive behaviors, like gambling addiction, can be influenced by a person’s past or present environment, stress, and traumatic experiences. For example, some traumatic experiences can shape a person’s neural pathways, which influences their responses to future stressful triggers.

The availability of addictive substances can also play a role in addiction, along with exposure to chemicals and some illnesses and infections. Exposures during the developmental years or before birth may also influence genes and the predisposition to addiction.

Addiction is a complex problem that requires a comprehensive approach to manage it. Many people need a combination of medications, therapy, lifestyle changes, and ongoing professional support to break the cycle of addiction and reclaim their healthy lives.

Get help for addiction

There is currently no gene therapy or medication to prevent or stop addiction entirely, but there are therapies that help. To learn how to overcome addiction and enjoy a better quality of life, book an appointment online or over the phone with the team at The Marcann Group today.