Heroin Addiction's Genetic ComponentSeptember 26, 2000
Research Summary
Researchers have found that some heroin users may be finding it harder to quit because they have a "pleasure-seeking gene," ABC News reported Sept. 14.Dr. Ernest Noble, a psychiatrist at Neuropsychiatric Institute and Hospital at the University of California Los Angeles, and colleagues found that some heroin users may have a genetic variation that hinders them from quitting. Such addicts may need alternative treatments, such as taking small, sustained doses of the drug in order to kick the habit.
Researchers made their conclusion after following 95 heroin patients who entered a rehab program using methadone. Of these patients, 54 successfully completed treatment, 22 dropped out and 19 did poorly.
The researchers discovered that the heroin addicts who failed the program were four times more likely to have the gene called DRD2. Of the patients studied, 22 percent of those who failed the program and 42 percent of those who had a poor outcome had the genetic variation, compared to 9 percent of the patients who successfully completed treatment.
"Heroin users who have this genetic variation may suffer from a more virulent form of the addiction that is less amenable to the standard course of treatment," said Noble. "I don't think these patients can get off drugs. If they don't use heroin, they'll use other things."
Previous studies have linked DRD2 with other addictions, such as alcoholism, smoking and overeating.
The findings from Noble's study are reported in the journal Neuropsychiatric Genetics.
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