Are Substance Abuse Disorders Genetic?
Do your genes determine your fate? Why can one person drink normally, while another loses all control? Is your relationship with alcohol and substances written in stone, even before birth? Are some people destined to become addicts due to the quirks of their makeup - factors beyond their control? Can nurture overcome nature?
These are all questions that the scientific community has stumbled upon while investigating the causes behind substance abuse disorders. Today we tackle the debate - are substance abuse disorders genetic?
The American Psychological Association proposes that "at least half of a person's susceptibility to drug addiction can be linked to genetic factors." If at least half comes down to our DNA, we need to look at what other factors are at play. But first, let’s go back to science class.
What Are Genes?
To accurately assess their influence, we need to ensure we have a clear picture of genes and what they do. Genes are a unit of physical inheritance. Genes consist of base pairs of DNA, ranging from a few hundred to a few million. According to the DNA sequence, some genes will code for proteins, while others will not. The human body is made up of 20,000 - 25,000 of these genes. What's even more remarkable is that 99% of them do nothing, while the tiny 1% remaining determines our entire physiological makeup. Scientific studies on mice point the finger towards certain genes as determining drug-sensitivity. This means that just a few hundred or thousands DNA base pairs, inherited from both, can have a profound effect on someone’s destiny.
Nature vs Nurture
The debate about what carries more weight, your DNA or upbringing, is known as the "nature vs. nurture" argument. Most of the medical community now agrees that both are equally significant and that addiction requires a holistic approach, investigating all relevant components to determine an effective treatment route. The interplay of the environment on the expression of genes is known as epigenetics, and psychologists look toward this field of study as the future of the study of addiction.
Environmental Risk Factors
As mentioned above, modern scientific knowledge attributes a 50% likelihood of addiction stemming from genetic factors. This statistic means we need to fill the other 50% gap. Environmental factors fill the other half of the probability spectrum. Experts say that determining environmental factors are:
Homelife & family unit
Peer groups
Situational stressors
Academic performance
Media consumption
Traumatic events
So what happens if your genetic makeup and your environment contain addiction-encouraging characteristics? Should you feel hopeless, like you can't help your fate?
Risk Prevention
Scientists say that taking the right steps during adolescence are crucial, when teenagers brains are highly malleable. Education, support, honesty, and mutual respect pave the road for a healthy future. They recommend helping the young person with habits towards:
Healthy eating
Exercise
Emotional regulation
Creating and maintaining healthy relationships
As well as educating them on:
Impact of alcohol and substances on health
Signs of addiction
How to get help if they are concerned
No matter age, gender, or background, to prevent addiction or relapse, education and compassion are key.
The bottom line is that genes play a role in addiction. More importantly, if you or a loved one are showing signs of addiction, help is out there.
Reach out and have a free, no-strings conversation with one of our team, who will be happy to assess your unique situation and answer any questions you may have. Recovery is possible, and your loved one is worth it.
