At Victory Recovery Partners, a network of seven addiction/recovery centers on Long Island, New York, we provide outpatient services to our patients, helping them to overcome their addictions and substance use disorders. When providing counseling services to our patients, we recognize that both behavioral health counselors as well as the patients should be educated to best help our team provide effective treatments for recovery. With that being said, understanding the causes of addiction can help expedite the recovery process. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, one significant cause of addiction is genetics.
Over the past couple of years, there have been significant breakthroughs in research on how genetics can contribute to the likelihood of developing an addiction. Researchers can compare DNA sequences of family members, which allows them to locate the genes that may be contributing to the addiction. Chromosomes are then analyzed to further determine common trends in those who are suffering from addiction. In fact, by analyzing genetic data of over 1 million people, scientists were able to find common genes that are inherited in individuals with addiction disorders. It has been discovered that many scientists and researchers believe that one’s genetics makes up about 40-60 percent of their risk of developing an addiction. As a result of this discovery, scientists were able to confirm the link between dopamine levels in the brain and addiction. These genes that are commonly found in those with addictions were connected to an increase in dopamine in the brain.
Additionally, scientists were able to further confirm that substance use disorders are heritable, meaning they can be passed down from parents to their children. When you think of inherited traits, you may think of one’s physical appearance such as their height, hair color, or eye color. Also, we commonly associate levels of intelligence with being inherited. While all of that is accurate, there is another key genetic trait that could be associated with substance use disorders and addiction – that trait is impulsiveness. Many of those who are battling addiction tend to be impulsive. This is not to put blame on them – it is certainly a difficult struggle being addicted to a substance. However, research has shown that this trait is present among many of those who are addicted to harmful drugs and other substances.
Another common trait often passed down through genetics is mood disorders, and other co-occurring psychological disorders. Often, those battling addiction may have issues such as depression or anxiety, which can be the result of conditions such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder or Bipolar Disorder. These disorders, and other similar conditions, are often genetic – someone in their family has had a similar mental health condition.
With all of this being said, you may be wondering how we use this information to help benefit our patients – the goal being a full recovery. Our team of behavioral health counselors work with our patients to uncover how genetics may play a role in addiction. For example, having an understanding of the patient’s family history, and whether the patient has other genetic contributors such as mood disorders, allows our counselors to provide the best-possible treatment to our patients.
Having an understanding of genetics on how it relates to addiction is a topic that is being explored and researched more now than ever. Many genetics companies such as 23andMe are working to uncover connections between genetics and addiction, ultimately leading to more effective treatment of patients. By performing genome-wide association studies, or GWAS, researchers are continually learning and making discoveries.
Victory Recovery Partners, a network of seven outpatient addiction/recovery centers on Long Island, New York, provides total treatment under one roof. This consists of several treatment methods, including behavioral health, psychiatric, wellness, and medication-assisted treatment. By understanding how genetics relates to addiction, we can further enhance our treatment methods, allowing for the ultimate goal to be achieved – a successful, long-lasting recovery. For more information on Victory, visit our website.
