Is Addiction Genetic?
Medical Writer:
Reviewer:
Johnny Kim
Executive Psychotherapist
Medical Writer:
Reviewer:
Johnny Kim
Executive Psychotherapist
Untangling the DNA of Desire
If addiction could be traced to a single gene, we’d all be lining up for a DNA test. But reality is far more complex and far more human. Addiction doesn’t discriminate by background, upbringing, or even biology. Scientists now understand that while genetics can load the gun, environment and experience often pull the trigger.
Researchers have spent years exploring how genetic and environmental factors interact to shape the risk of addiction. The short answer? They’re deeply connected and influence each other almost equally. By understanding this relationship, researchers and clinicians can help people recognize vulnerabilities, make informed choices, and develop new, more effective treatments for substance use disorders.
Genetics plays a significant role in addiction. However, they do not determine a person’s fate or worth. Anyone can struggle with addiction, which means that regardless of DNA, anyone can also overcome addiction with proper care and treatment.
Genetics vs. Heredity: Is There a Difference?
The terms genetic and heredity are related but not the same, even though many use them interchangeably.
Genetics
Genes are DNA sequences that a person inherits from their biological parents. Each human has about 35,000 genes. 99% of them are identical to other people. It’s that last 1% that gives us our individuality, such as eye color, height, and even how our brains react to certain stimuli.
Genetic diseases or abnormalities occur when a spontaneous mutation appears in a person’s unique DNA sequence. Sometimes, those mutations occur for the first time in an individual, but once they exist, they can be passed down through generations.
Heredity
Heredity comes from existing variations in genes from biological parents. For instance, colorblindness, male pattern baldness, and sickle cell anemia are all traits that can pass from generation to generation. There’s no guarantee every child will inherit the same genes or develop the same conditions.
Two siblings can have the same parents and have vastly different appearances and health profiles. It’s a reminder that DNA provides the foundation, but life writes its own script. Genetic and hereditary factors alone don’t determine behavior or personality. Environmental triggers, like trauma, substance exposure, or stress, can activate certain genes that otherwise might have stayed dormant. Addiction often develops at this intersection of biology and experience.
Is Addiction Genetic?
Unlike inherited physical traits, genetics are no guarantee of addiction. Addiction is a complicated disease influenced by various factors, including genetic predispositions toward developing addictions. It is important to remember that likelihood, including inherited genes, is not a predetermined destiny. Genetic influence may tilt the scale, but it doesn’t define the outcome.
A Genetic Predisposition to Alcohol and Drug Addiction
A genetic predisposition to alcohol abuse and drug addiction means that someone is more vulnerable to addiction than others, partially because of their unique DNA sequences. Research conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has determined that family history and genetic makeup determine between 40 to 60% of a person’s addiction risk.
Scientists can identify genes that influence how people react to and process certain drugs of abuse, like opioids, stimulants, and alcohol. For a relatable example of this, look at the side effects of medications. One person can take an antihistamine like Benadryl and experience extreme drowsiness. Another may get a boost of energy from the same dose. The different reactions are because of genetic factors.
The same genetic influences can increase or decrease the risk of addiction to drugs or alcohol. For instance, some people metabolize drugs or alcohol so quickly that they never feel the full effects. Others have allergic reactions to things like wheat or hops, so they are physically unable to ingest certain kinds of alcohol.
On the opposite side of that spectrum, people born with low dopamine production, fewer serotonin receptors, or mental illnesses are at a higher risk of addiction because of how their system interacts with the brain’s reward centers.
Prolonged and chronic substance abuse can alter DNA and brain structure, so there is a margin of error in study participants because it can be difficult to tell if certain gene expressions occurred before or after developing an addiction.
Is There an Addiction Gene?
There is not one specific gene that causes addiction. Instead, several genes make addiction more likely. The more genetic factors a person has, the more vulnerable they become to addiction.
Below are some examples of genes scientists have identified in humans and animals that influence genetic predispositions to addiction:
- The moody gene or the G protein-coupled receptor affects the blood-brain barrier and increases sensitivity to cocaine.
- The mGluR2 receptor gene, absent in some people and animals, leads to experiencing fewer effects from cocaine. However, this can lead to them consuming larger amounts to get high.
- The DRD2 receptor gene commonly appears in people addicted to alcohol, cocaine, and opioids. Scientists believe it changes how drugs interact with the brain’s reward pathways.
- The mu receptor gene can contain variations that lead to a higher risk of alcohol addiction and opioid use disorders.
- The Mpdz gene is frequently associated with test subjects who experience less or mild withdrawal symptoms than people without it.
While these are a handful of thousands of examples, they highlight many factors that can contribute to addiction. It is dangerous to blame addiction solely on genetic factors because it ignores other risk factors that influence addiction.
What Risk Factors Contribute to Addiction?
Everyone has heard nature versus nurture when discussing how someone ended up as the person they are. However, it does come down to a combination of nature and nurture, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
Genetic Factors
Genetic factors make up 40–60% of addiction risk. However, few people are aware of their genetic vulnerabilities before using substances.
Some contributing genetic and hereditary factors include:
- Mental Illness: Conditions like depression, ADHD, or bipolar disorder can increase risk as individuals may self-medicate symptoms.
- Brain Structure: People with underdeveloped amygdalas or fewer dopamine receptors may experience heightened emotional reactivity or diminished reward response.
- Metabolism: Genetic differences affect how people process substances. Some feel more euphoria or relief, reinforcing use.
- Multiple Gene Mutations: When several vulnerable genes combine, the risk for dependency rises significantly.
Environmental Factors
Environmental factors shape how genetic tendencies express themselves. These include:
- Early Substance Exposure: Using drugs or alcohol while the brain is still developing can permanently alter its structure and chemistry.
- Family Influence: Growing up in a household where substance use is normalized increases access and acceptance.
- Trauma and Stress: Abuse, neglect, or traumatic events can alter brain chemistry and increase vulnerability.
- Peer Pressure: The desire to belong can outweigh risk awareness, especially during adolescence.
- Life-Altering Events: Divorce, job loss, grief, or war can push people toward substances for relief.
Ultimately, addiction develops from an intricate interplay between genetic makeup and life circumstances, not one or the other.
Can Genetics Protect Against Addiction?
Interestingly, just as some genes increase addiction risk, others may provide natural protection. Certain variations in dopamine or opioid receptors can make individuals less sensitive to reward effects, lowering the risk of dependency.
For example, some people carry a variation of the ADH1B gene, which causes unpleasant reactions to alcohol, discouraging excessive drinking. Others have genes that enhance resilience to stress or improve emotional regulation, reducing the likelihood of self-medication through drugs or alcohol.
This discovery is offering scientists new hope. They are not just in predicting addiction risk, but in developing medications that mimic these protective effects.
The Future of Genetic Research in Addiction Treatment
Genetic research is transforming addiction treatment from one-size-fits-all care into something more personal. Imagine a future where doctors can identify at-risk individuals early and tailor prevention programs to their biology.
Already, researchers are exploring pharmacogenomics by using DNA to determine how people will respond to specific addiction medications. For instance, genetic testing could help clinicians choose the most effective medications for managing cravings or withdrawal.
Epigenetic therapy, which targets the way genes are expressed rather than changing the DNA itself, is another growing area of study. The hope is to “turn off” harmful gene expressions that make addiction harder to overcome.
While we’re not there yet, the progress is promising. It reminds us that understanding our biology isn’t about accepting fate. It’s about rewriting it.
Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment at White Oak Recovery Center
At White Oak Recovery Center, we specialize in treating the roots of your addiction with a holistic approach, healing the whole person, not just the substance use disorder. Drug and alcohol addiction affects the entire family, but it only takes one person to break the cycle.
White Oak Recovery Center’s beautiful private residential treatment centers in Northridge, California, offer personalized treatment plans with safe, expertly managed medical detox. Our family therapy program helps residents learn new coping and communication skills while strengthening healthy bonds and relationships between family members.
Our licensed and experienced team of specialists at WORC are compassionate and genuinely dedicated to each resident’s recovery and effective relapse prevention plan. Our dual diagnosis program recognizes and treats co-occurring disorders with evidence-based approaches that alleviate the urge to turn to drugs or alcohol for relief and self-medication.
Rediscover your life rooted in recovery. Reach out to our treatment specialists today. They are eager to assist in getting you the help you need.
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