Abstract
Drug addiction is a complex disorder that has a large spectrum of causes. Vulnerability to addiction has been shown in twin studies to have a robust genetic component. This genetic basis for addiction has general and specific components for each drug abused. Although many genes have been implicated in drug addiction, only a handful have either been replicated to have an association or to have an identified functional mechanism related to specific effects of abused drugs. A few selected genetic variants that currently look promising for the study of alcohol, opiate, and cocaine addiction are discussed in this article.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
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Review
MeSH terms
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Alcoholism / genetics
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Alcoholism / metabolism
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Alcoholism / physiopathology
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Animals
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Brain Chemistry / drug effects*
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Brain Chemistry / genetics
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Cocaine-Related Disorders / genetics
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Cocaine-Related Disorders / metabolism
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Cocaine-Related Disorders / physiopathology
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Genetic Predisposition to Disease / genetics*
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Genotype
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Humans
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Opioid-Related Disorders / genetics
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Opioid-Related Disorders / metabolism
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Opioid-Related Disorders / physiopathology
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Polymorphism, Genetic / genetics
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Substance-Related Disorders / genetics*
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Substance-Related Disorders / metabolism
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Substance-Related Disorders / physiopathology