Genetics of Substance Use Disorders

Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2016 Jul;25(3):377-85. doi: 10.1016/j.chc.2016.02.002. Epub 2016 Apr 9.

Abstract

Substance abuse disorders have a strong genetic component. Genetic risk factors associated with alcohol abuse include common variants in genes coding for alcohol-metabolizing enzymes and gamma-aminobutyric acid A receptors. Functional missense mutations in ADH1B and ALDH2 are protective against alcohol dependence. Nicotine use disorders are associated with polymorphisms in a cluster of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on chromosome 15q24, and mutations that reduce the enzymatic activity of CYP2A6. Genetic risk factors for other illicit drug use have not been well-studied. Most genetic vulnerability toward substance use disorders remains unexplained. Future research will benefit from advanced whole-genome sequencing technologies.

Keywords: Addiction; Alcohol; Alcohol dehydrogenase; Aldehyde dehydrogenase; Genome-wide association; Genomics; Nicotine; Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Aldehyde Dehydrogenase / genetics
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2A6 / genetics
  • Female
  • Genetic Linkage / genetics
  • Genome-Wide Association Study
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mutation, Missense / genetics
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Receptors, Nicotinic / genetics
  • Substance-Related Disorders / genetics*
  • Twin Studies as Topic

Substances

  • Receptors, Nicotinic
  • CYP2A6 protein, human
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2A6
  • Aldehyde Dehydrogenase