Influence Of Addiction: A Genetics Study

Addictions are a diverse set of common and complex diseases that are to some extent tied together by shared genetic and environmental factors. Addiction includes alcohol use disorders, cannabis and cocaine use disorders, nicotine dependence, as well as non-substance–related behaviors. Both genetic and environmental variables contribute to the use and abuse of addictive substances, which may eventually lead to addiction.

The question of nature vs. nurture has been the focus of many debates, especially within the discipline of psychological sciences. This paper will examine the views that exist regarding the importance of contributions to the risk of addiction, specifically, genetic (nature) vs. environmental (nurture) contributions through a review of the existing literature.

Addiction is a multifactorial psychiatric disorder in which twin studies have established a compelling case for a genetic heritability of increased susceptibility in some human hosts more than others . Outside of genetics, addiction is partial to several environmental, behavioral, and developmental risk factors as “neither genetic nor environmental factors act in isolation to increase susceptibility to addiction.” Thus, there does not appear to be any necessary nor sufficient factors that are responsible for the increased likelihood of substance use/abuse and subsequent addiction.

The consequences of addiction are important to understand and they should be communicated in a way that is relatable, but prevention is more complicated than that. Healthy2Fitness attempts to describe the processes of the brain as they relate to addiction, explaining why substance addiction is so challenging to manage. This video makes sense of the inner struggle those with addiction experience, and why they often continue to use despite being faced with repeated consequences. Substance abuse professionals, under the education model, could apply the information relayed in this video as part of their prevention program. At the very least, it would be helpful for prevention programs to include the neurological processes involved in addiction. As Healthy2Fitness eloquently said, “Understanding the science of addiction can help you and the one you love”

A prevailing belief in the field of addiction is that drug addiction is a “brain disease” characterized by “uncontrollable, compulsive drug craving, seeking, and use, even in the face of negative health and social consequences” (Leshner 2). In his article “Addiction Is a Brain Disease,” Alan I. Leshner claims that repeated use of drugs alters brain structure and function (1) and that once addicted, few are able to revert back to occasional use (2). Because of their “uncontrollable” behavior, he believes addicts cannot quit on their own and need formal treatment (4). Although Leshner’s ideas represent wide held beliefs in the psychiatric field, recently an array of studies, such as Rat Park and the Vietnam veterans, produce evidence that disproves Leshner’s beliefs that addiction is compulsive, does not exist on a spectrum, and needs professional intervention to resolve, and instead suggests that environmental factors play a larger role in addiction and recovery than was previously believed.

An understanding of addiction must remain broad: addiction as a possible consequence of the human desire to alter consciousness; a chief public health concern for its dramatic negative impact on society through the destructive behaviors of the addiction; a chronic, relapsing, biopsychosocial disorder that cannot be understood apart from social context—not simply as a brain disease (Hammer et al., 2013). It is much more than a brain disease and everyone deserves to be treated for their individual issues and/or traumas. The challenge of providing quality care for the addicted is layered not only with careful consideration and social context of the addicts—their ability to cope, their understanding of the nature of

Scientists and physicians say that addiction is a complex, but treatable disease that affects brain function and behavior. The use of

Many Americans suffer from addiction: In fact 8 to 10% of people above the age of 12 are addicted to either alcohol or some form of drug. However our efforts to reduce the amount of people suffering from addiction has proven to be inadequate. Research that views addiction as a brain disease has provided us with with more effective means

Drug addiction is something many of us don’t encounter every day. Addiction has, plagued every society across the world, and continues to do so today. It has led to the decimation of towns, cities, and countries; yet we know little about what factors influence addiction. In the past it used to be viewed as a very simple almost binary process, that process being, if someone uses drugs they will become addicted. This idea was challenged and many began to believe that there were much deeper factors at play beyond the pharmacological properties of substances. It pushed us to question what aspects of society, culture, or biology leads people to substance abuse. It wanted to further analyze what factors turn some people from occasional recreational

The term addiction as it relates to disease has been a controversial topic for generations. The general arguments for this controversial topic latch onto one of two differing ideas (Leshner, n.d.). The first believe is that addiction is a disease that needs intervention to overcome. The second is belief that addiction is simply the term people use because they lack the will power to quit on their own. However, as we advanced in medical technology so did are understanding of addiction. These advances led to the discovery that addiction is a brain disease. This brain disease is the direct consequence of a person’s illicit drug use. Addiction is the consequence of extended substance abuse. Long term drug abuse causes severe changes in the brain.

Addiction is a severe problem facing millions of people every year. People can become addicted to many things, but the main problem revolves around alcohol and illegal drugs. These substances change the brain’s structure to need more and more of it, which in turn makes the addict focus on the substance instead of their everyday life. Addiction is problematic because people are gaining access to more and more substances that be extremely harmful to their bodies, it is very hard to recover from, and it is becoming more available to younger people whose brains are more susceptible to them than adults. Although addiction is classified as a disease, there is a debate over whether it is the choice of the addict to stay on the substance or a

There are many causes of addiction and addictive behaviors. The causes can stem from, but are not limited to, physiological, historical, social, and environmental factors that come together to cause addiction and addictive behaviors (The Highjacked Brain, 1998). It is important to point out that addictions and addictive behaviors are not caused by only one factor, but rather a combination of them. Physiological factors occur and affect the brain, thus, addictions and addictive behaviors can be considered a disease because of the changes that occur to the brain (The Highjacked Brain, 1998). Considering this more, substance abuse and addictive behaviors, such as

Alcohol and drug addictions are the greatest dangers to a healthy society nationwide. An addiction is “a condition that results when a person ingests a substance (e.g. alcohol, nicotine, cocaine) or engages in an activity (e.g. gambling) that can be pleasurable but the continued use/ act of which becomes compulsive and interferes with ordinary life responsibilities, such as work, relationships, or health.” An addicted person may not be aware of their altered behavior or the problems that their behavior is causing. To help an addicted person it is important to understand the psychology behind addictions, the symptoms, drug trends, and the options for treatment.

Addiction is a diverse set of common but intricate diseases that are, to some extent, tied together by shared genetic and environmental factors. Addiction includes alcohol use disorders, cannabis and cocaine use disorders, nicotine dependence, as well as non-substance–related behaviors. Both genetic and environmental variables contribute to the use and abuse of addictive substances, which may eventually lead to addiction.

I propose that we understand drug addiction as a disorder, like heart disease, diabetes, and depression. In what follows, I will suggest that we understand the issue from the perspective of two primary sources.