Genetic Influences on Addiction. A study that highlights the significant role genetics play in addiction is the twin studies. Addiction is a complex condition that is influenced by multiple factors, including genetic make-up. Therefore, genes alone do not determine whether someone will develop AUD. Addiction is a chronic illness, and, like other kinds of illnesses, it tends to run in families. However, in recent years, we have learned more about the role that genes play in the development of nicotine dependence. Research shows that genes are responsible for about half of the risk for AUD. Presenters at an April 8 congressional hearing outlined new research on the genetic basis for addiction and recommended ways to incorporate those findings into treatment. Research has shown that about half of the risk that you have of developing an addiction is hereditary. Environmental factors, as well as gene and environment interactions account for the remainder of the risk. /how_do_genes_affect_addiction for a vocabulary list to support the student article and lesson. How Does Addiction Affect Your Genes? It should be noted that there is no such thing as a gene for alcoholism or a gene for cocaine addiction. How Do Genes Affect Addiction? Researchers have found that 40% to 60% of a person’s susceptibility to addiction depends on genetics, but behavior and environment also play a role. Twins have similar and sometimes identical genetics. Furthermore, genes identified in GWAS for drug addiction may be involved either in adjusting brain behavior prior to drug experiences, subsequent to them, or both. Alcohol use disorder , the medical term for alcoholism and alcohol abuse, has been linked to some specific genes . This means your likeliness to develop an addiction increases dramatically if there is a history of it in your family. How Do Genetics Affect Alcohol Addiction. Numerous large-scale twin studies have documented the importance of genetic influences on how much people use substances (alcohol, tobacco, other drugs) and the likelihood that users will develop problems (Verhulst et al., 2015).However, twin studies also robustly demonstrate that genetic influences affect multiple forms of substance use (alcohol, illicit drugs) as well as … Addiction-resistant individuals use drugs without spiraling into the impairing patterns of addiction. Studies have found that genes are responsible for a significant part of the probability that someone will become addicted to any kind of substance or behavior. Addiction is a chronic disease of the brain, affecting the reward and motivation centers, and for decades, scientists have argued about the genetic and hereditary components of addiction. There has been much research into the role of genetics within alcohol addiction, leading to finds that show multiple genetic impacts on this risk. - … When we consume alcohol, our bodies need a way to process it, a function that is overseen by various genes. Numerous genes are involved in substance addiction. Student Skills Sheet The worksheet on the reverse side provides students with information about some of the different factors that can affect a person’s risk for addiction and asks critical-thinking At least half of a person's susceptibility to drug addiction can be linked to genetic factors. However, it goes much deeper than that. The different responses to drug use come from our genes and how genetic differences intersect with differences in our environments – our life histories and lifestyles. Environment interactions account for the remainder of the risk into the impairing patterns of addiction and. 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