Addiction & Genetics

Research shows that genetics influence addiction somewhere between 40% & 60%.  By combing through genomic data of over 1 million people, scientists have identified genes commonly inherited across addiction disorders, regardless of the substance being used. This dataset, one of the largest of its kind, may help reveal new treatment targets across multiple substance use disorders, including for people diagnosed with more than one.

Although studies indicate that substance use disorders and other drug-related harms are more likely to occur when a person has experienced risk factors such as a family history of substance use disorders, personal trauma, or access to drugs.  However, protective factors, such as healthy family and peer relationships and financial stability, may lessen a person’s risk of developing substance use disorders.  

Both hereditary and environmental variables play a role in the onset of addiction.

Genetics may increase your risk of a substance use disorder, but that doesn’t mean it’s your fate.  In many ways, it’s no different than having a family history with heart disease or diabetes.

Just because your family has a history of addiction doesn’t mean that that you’re going to develop an addiction,” explains Dr. Anand. “It just means you’re more prone to it.  In other words, genetics indicate a predisposition, not a destiny.

As with other diseases and disorders, the likelihood of developing an addiction differs from person to person, and no single factor determines whether a person will become addicted to drugs. In general, the more risk factors a person has, the greater the chance that risky behavior or partaking of drugs and/or alcohol will lead to an addiction.