Is addictive drugs genetic or environmental?

Both genetic and environmental variables contribute to the onset of the use of addictive agents and the transition from use to addiction. Addictions are moderate-to-high in inheritance. Scientists will never find a single genetic change that causes addiction. Like most other diseases, substance use disorder is a complex trait.

It is influenced by variations in several genes, in addition to environmental factors. Through this research, they can help reduce the stigma of addiction, treat drug addiction faster, and create individual prevention and treatment plans for people with addictions. Over the past decade, the prevalence of opioid addiction has increased to epidemic levels, but unfortunately therapeutic interventions for addiction treatment remain limited. They found that adopted children were at greater risk of drug addiction if their biological parents were addicted.

However, it is difficult to understand if a person's drug addiction was caused by genetic factors or by family influence if their parents were also addicted. His publication on “Genetics and Epigenetics of Addiction,” DrugFacts notes that family studies “suggest that up to half of a person's risk of becoming addicted to nicotine, alcohol, or other drugs depends on their genetic makeup.

Steve Langehennig
Steve Langehennig

Amateur bacon enthusiast. Amateur coffee geek. Incurable travel advocate. Infuriatingly humble tv guru. Professional food nerd. Subtly charming travel ninja.