How Much of Our Addiction Is in Our Genes?

Many people with a substance use disorder grew up with a relative who also suffers, or in a household where drugs were nearby. In reflection, a person may look back and ask profound questions about the circumstances of their upbringing, like: Did my genes determine my addiction? Was I destined to struggle with substance abuse?

While genetics can relate to addiction risk, they do not dictate your fate. It is always possible to break free and carve a new future. This article explores the links between addiction and genetics and provides steps to reduce the risk if addiction is affecting you.

What is meant by “a link between genes and addiction”?

When scientific researchers raise points of “addiction genes,” they are basically searching for biological differences that can make a person more or less likely to develop an alcohol or drug addiction.

Broadly speaking, every person responds to drugs and medicines in different ways. Most people have witnessed this in their lives in one form or another. For example, you take medication that works well for you. The same pill does nothing for a friend and makes another feel sick. These variances are often caused by differences within a person’s genes.

Researchers hunt for addiction-related genes to better understand why some groups of people respond to drugs in different ways. One person may have grown up surrounded by drug use in their family and express a desire or disdain for that drug. Some people experience more severe withdrawal symptoms when they stop doing the same quantity of drugs as others. Additionally, a person might express feeling no pleasure from a drug that makes others feel euphoric.

All of these examples suggest that there may be genetic factors involved in the formation of a person’s addiction, so which areas of a person’s life make addiction-forming more likely?

Can addictions run in the family?

Generally speaking, substance use disorders can commonly recur in families where one member suffers. Research into family studies and twin relationships found strong familial inheritance patterns for substance use disorders. Heritability (what is passed down through genes) can vary between the types of drugs, but experts suggest that genetic influences account for roughly half of the risk.

You may have encountered this in your life, perhaps when you were a teenager, after the first time your parents found out you drank alcohol. Your mother or father could have felt concerned and quietly mentioned to each other a line about one of their parents who struggled with an alcohol addiction. While this doesn’t prove anything scientifically, words spoken by older generations can carry ancient insights into the difficulties faced by a person’s predecessors.

This is why it becomes important to consider your family history when looking at whether an addiction will, or already does, affect you. That does not mean you should despair if you’re worried that you’ve inherited an addiction gene, but it does mean you should be more careful.

How addiction-forming can relate to mood disorders

Addiction-forming is understood to be extremely heterogeneous, with countless factors that contribute. However, researchers have found that some temperaments and mood disorders raise the risk of addiction.

Around half of people with a substance use disorder have an additional psychiatric diagnosis, usually a mood, anxiety, or personality disorder. The personality disorder most commonly linked with addiction is antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). This disorder is marked by manipulative, dishonest and criminal behaviour. The exact cause of ASPD isn’t known, but it’s considered that a combination of genes and life experiences contributes to it. A parent with an antisocial personality is likely to influence the behaviour of their child as they develop. A child who has a parent with ASPD may, in turn, grow antisocial and self-isolate in hard times. This can cause a tragic knock-on effect that stops many from getting the help they need and leads many people further into the grips of addiction.

Are we close to knowing all genes that influence addiction?

While it is believed that scientists will never find just one single gene that causes addiction, continued genetic research is expanding and we are learning more each year. Some estimates suggest there are hundreds of genes linked with addiction, but only a portion of them have been found.

An insightful interview with Elissa Chesler at Jackson Laboratory’s Center for Systems Neurogenetics of Addiction illustrates the deep and multifaceted roles genes have in addiction-forming. Her interview aimed to answer the question “How many addiction genes are there?”

She stated, “There are the genes that control stress responses, genes that affect how rapidly the drug is metabolized, and genes that affect how readily an addiction forms.”

The interview continues into quite philosophical and controversial topics, such as the idea of authorities being able to profile a person’s genetic makeup and consider predictive behaviours. Her leading research continues to highlight the risks and rewards scientists can find when linking genes with addiction and poses interesting perspectives on what would happen if we understood the mechanisms of every gene in our body.

The discovery of specific addiction genes

Most of the genes found to have a role in addiction have been found in animal models, especially mice. Like all other animals, including ourselves, mice carry out most of their behaviours and actions as part of the brain’s “reward pathway.” The research into addiction genes in animals led to breakthroughs in understanding how addictions work in people.

According to research from the Genetic Science Learning Center, just a few examples of genes that influence addiction risk include:

• ALDH2*2 (Alcohol Dehydrogenase 2 Gene Variant): Reduces alcohol breakdown, causing nausea, facial flushing, headache, and rapid heartbeat when drinking.
• Mpdz Gene: Mice that produce more Mpdz protein experience less severe withdrawal symptoms from alcohol and sedative-hypnotic drugs like barbiturates.
• DRD2 (Dopamine Receptor Gene A1 Allele): More common in people addicted to alcohol, cocaine, and opioids; likely affects the brain’s reward pathway.
• moody Gene (Fruit Flies & Cocaine Sensitivity): Fruit flies without this gene are more sensitive to cocaine due to its role in maintaining the blood-brain barrier.

These discoveries give valuable insight into the biological basis of addiction and help treatment providers deepen their understanding of how the brain works in addiction recovery.

Nature vs nurture: steps to help reduce addiction risk

Both genetics (nature) and life experiences (nurture) influence the likelihood of addiction forming. Genetics can make a person more vulnerable to developing a substance use disorder, but environmental factors can shape the way an early addiction develops. However, it is important to remember that neither nature nor nurture can completely determine your fate.

Here are some steps you can take to reduce the risk of addiction:

If you’re affected genetically (nature):

• Be aware of family history: Research and be mindful of the ways addiction has affected any family members, past or present.
• Manage mental health: If you suffer from conditions like anxiety or depressive disorder, you may be more vulnerable to addiction.
• Consider preventative treatment: Some genetic vulnerabilities respond well to medications or structured treatment plans to help regulate brain chemistry.

If your environment is affecting you (nurture):

• Develop healthy coping strategies: If you have been affected by past trauma or a difficult home environment, coping mechanisms learned in therapy and behavioural treatment can help.
• Unplug from high-risk situations: Surround yourself with positive influences and avoid settings where substance use is common.
• Seek professional support: If you recognise patterns of dangerous substance use, professional support may be a process that turns your life around.

Where can I find support for an addiction in my life?

If you’re worried that genetic factors are making you more vulnerable to addiction, remember that neither nature nor nurture can completely seal your fate. If you or a loved one is concerned and needs support for an addiction, help is available.

Here at UKAT, we specialise in alcohol detox programmes. Our trained professionals offer medical support to remove the damaging effects of substance addiction. Our personalised care plan gets to the core of the physical and psychological aspects of drug and alcohol addiction.

Get in touch with us today to start your journey toward a healthier life, free from addiction.