THE ROLE OF GENETICS IN ADDICTIONS
Alcohol
1.
The part of the brain affected.
 The reward pathway is the part of the brain that is
affected.
 All drugs that are abused activate the dopamine system in
the reward pathway.
 Once the brain adapts to the drug, other parts than just
the reward pathway can be affected.
 The Serotonin Pathways are also affected
2.
The Chromosomes that are affected
 Chromosomes 4 and 5 play a key role in determining
alcohol tolerance
 Also on chromosome number 11.
3.
The addicted substances that have been studied
 Alcohol impairs reasoning, speech, judgment, balance and
coordination.
 Genes that are involved in the metabolism of alcohol
increase the risk of addiction .
Meth
1. The part of the brain affected.
 The reward pathway is the part of the brain that is
affected.
 Once the brain adapts to the drug, other parts than just
the reward pathway can be affected. (Neutrons)
2. The Chromosomes that are affected
 Chromosome number 11 is affected.
3 .The addicted substances that have been studied
 Some of the street names of methamphetamine are crank,
chalk, ice, and speed.
 Meth has a strong affect of the nervous system and brain.
Marijuana
1. The part of the brain affected.
 The reward pathway is the part of the brain that is
affected.
2. The Chromosomes that are affected

Chromosome 17 is affect by use of Marijuana
3. The addicted substances that have been studied
Some of the street names of Marijuana are weed, grass, Mary,
and hash.
Weed affects your attention span, coordination, and it can
impair your memory.
4. Research being done to help combat addiction
 Finding new medicines that can help reduce the cravings and
prevent return.
 Trying to target proteins in the brain that control the
perception of pain, reward and mood.

5. Include statistics of addiction in families.

When looking for “addiction genes” scientists look for
biological differences that could make someone less or more
vulnerable to addiction.
 There is not one single addiction gene.
 Its harder for people with certain addiction gene types to
stop once they have started.
 Scientists make pedigrees to see if the trait has a genetic
component.
 Addiction is influenced by your environment and by multiple
genes.