ABSTRACT
Addiction is a serious problem in the modern era, in the United States and all over the world. Addictions can be to drugs and alcohol, but people can be addicted to many things. Many feel that addiction is the consequences for poor choices potentially encouraged by environmental factors. However, many argue that addiction is linked to genetics. The predisposition to addiction can be entirely hereditary. That means that some people carry genes that put them at greater risk for becoming an addict, which has been contributing to high addiction statistics. Today science has identified a number of genes that are involved in addiction and how that knowledge of genetics in addiction will mean in the future
INTRODUCTION
Addiction is a modern term that is used quite commonly in the modern era. People with addictions are everywhere. Sometimes and individual does not even know such a heightened dependency is present, until they make efforts to stop and find it unusually difficult. There are some people who are or become addicted to everything in their life, while others who are never dependent in anything. How does this happen? Why are some people more likely to be addicted than others? This topic has generated a great deal of scientific debate. Some believe that addictions are products of negative environments and poor choices, however, others believe that there is more to it than that; it goes deeper. Many are arguing that genetics play the most important role in addiction; some people are predispositioned to be susceptible to addictions. The reality is that environments, life experiences and unhealthy choices and one’s genetic disposition towards addiction play significant roles in any individual’s addictions. This essay will explain why some people are more vulnerable to addiction, what is the effectiveness of understanding the role of genetics in addiction and, finally, it will illustrate how these genes can beneficial to the treatments of addiction.
BACKGROUND
Addiction is any form of dependency on something where one’s ability to function in their day-to-life becomes difficult, if not impossible, and when separate from the focus of addiction they experience psychological, emotional and physical withdrawal symptoms. Given this definition it becomes obvious that anything can be addictive. Most people associate “addiction” with the abuses of illicit or prescribed drugs, alcohol and tobacco products. In reality people can become entirely addicted to or dependent upon persons, places and things, as well (Sussman, Leventhal & et. al., 2012). That morning cup of coffee, video games, shopping, eating, gambling and, even, sex are all possible addictions in the modern era. Some people manage to avoid addictions all together while others may end addicted to everything that they try or enjoy. This led to the coining the term “addictive personality,” which places much of addiction in the causal realm of psychology. However, today we understand that there are some individuals who have a genetic connection related to the likelihood of addiction, more so than many others (National Council of Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, 2015). The arguments of a biological imperative versus social environments, or nature versus nurture, are continuously being argued. However, it continues to be clear that without the genetic foundation of addiction, addiction might not be the kind of “world pandemic” that is has become.
DISCUSSION
More and more every day we see the scientific knowledge of the significance of understanding the complexity of DNA and how genes effect “who people are” and “what people do.” (National Council of Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, 2015). As that knowledge grows humanity begins to see just how influential genes are in relation to attitude, behavior diseases suffered from and, of course, addictions. There are a number of ways that genetics has an effect on the addiction in human beings
Mental Illness:
Mental illness is something that continues to plague human beings and has been proven to be a highly hereditary trait. In particular, depression runs within families, In many cases the painful and stressful symptoms of depression can encourage some people more than others to consider turning to drugs or alcohol in order to “self medicate.” The more severe the depression the more severe addictions may become (Dhywood, 2011). That said without the presence of the genetic predisposition for addictions, and then the statistics of societal addictions might be decreased, making the genes more accountable for addictions than any social influences.
Addiction Genes:
For certain addictive behaviors; they also can lead to a greater understanding of what genetics elements help to prevent or lessen the There is no singular gene that can be universally held accountable for all of what makes up the potential for addictions. There are a few genes that have been indentified that directly link to certain types of predisposition potential for addiction.
The AI allele is a dopamine receptor gene called DRD2. When it is present there is a greater likelihood of addiction to alcohol and cocaine (University of Utah. (2016).
The people lacking the receptor gene Htr1b are more likely to be attracted to alcohol and cocaine, which could lead to addiction (University of Utah, 2016).
Low levels of the neuropeptide Y are prone to heavy consumption of alcohol; those with higher levels in comparison were more able to abstain (University of Utah, 2016).
Mice with a defective Per 2 gene are more likely to drink more than three times than the standard average. This has only yet been seen in mice, but mice are often a beneficial analog for finding the similar genetic codes within human beings as well (University of Utah, 2016).
If someone has two copies of the ALDH*2 gene variation are the least likely to ever suffer from alcoholism (University of Utah, 2016).
All of the aforementioned genes are valid examples of how great of a role that genetics play in the potential of addictions. Addictions are very much like a disease in their chronic, ever worsening and potentially dangerous aspect to ones physical, emotional and mental health (Ball, 2007).
Finding a means to better recognize, treat and prevent addictions are incredibly important. The reason that many people addicted to something, like drugs for example, are reluctant to seek treatment has a lot to do with the stigmas associated with addictions (Bevilacqua & Goldman, 2009). That must be changed.
Geneticists are proving that addiction is, more often than not, a matter of genetics, which means that the addicted had little control over some of their choices, which means that the aforementioned stigma should not exist (Bevilacqua & Goldman, 2009).
There may come a time when genetic testing can forewarn those with genes that could encourage addiction. This is the ideal way to prevent people from exposing themselves from the thing they are predispositioned to have a potential addiction to. It will, also, aid therapist and medical staff in determining how best to treat people who are currently suffering addictions (Bevilacqua & Goldman, 2009).
It would be unfair not to acknowledge the influence that choice, human will, life experience, environments, family life and other social ties can be contributory to addiction. Yes, the environment people are raised within, the experiences that they have and their own perceptions of themselves and the world all can lead some to become more inclined to addictive behaviors and certainly addictive substances (Bevilacqua & Goldman, 2009).
However, the speed and severity of how one becomes addicted has less to do with the environmental factors and more to do with family history, hereditary genes and other genetic factors that predispose addiction (National Council of Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, 2015). Having the propensity to become addicted stacks the genetic deck against people so to speak, they are at a higher risk and may never even be aware of it.
CONCLUSION
Ultimately, we live in an era of rampant addictions, of all different forms. Some are far more life threatening than others. The greater understanding that is gained regarding how genetic influences will help to better inform people about their genetic heredities towards addiction, as well as, other medical diseases and conditions, in order to then prevent addictions by avoiding the probability. There are many therapies and approached to treating an existing addiction, many are unsuccessful in ending a patients dependency and patients are the most likely to relapse. The understanding genetics role in addiction will be able to curb the commonality and change the statistics of addiction in the world today and well into the future. It remains quite clear that while social influence, environment and life experiences are contributors to addiction, it is the genetic contributions that are more crucial because they are more deeply rooted, literally, in the genetic code of individuals. Continuous and future study into the complex influences of genetics on addiction is highly worthwhile and likely to be highly beneficial.
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Bevilacqua, L. and Goldman, D. (2009). Genes and addictions. Clinical Pharmacology &
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Dhywood, J. (2011). World war-d - Ebook version: The case against prohibitionism. A roadmap
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