Monday, March 15, 2010

The role of genes in drug addiction

Though the root cause of drug addiction has yet to be determined, we do know that genetic predisposition for addictive behavior is often a contributing factor. At The Canyon, we incorporate what is known about genetic factors with the latest medical and epidemiological knowledge about social and environmental factors that contribute to drug abuse to create a well-rounded and effective drug treatment program.

Drug Addiction as Genetic
What is difficult to understand is why some who are use drugs casually become addicted quickly while others can use without any long-term repercussions. In a recent study, it was estimated that about 40 percent to 60 percent of the variability in drug addiction risk can be attributed to genetics and the environment created by the immediate family. The rest could be a combination of psychological disorders like depression and environmental circumstances like stress and availability of the drug.

Medical and therapeutic professionals at The Canyon are adept at helping you determine the root causes of your drug and alcohol addiction and address them during your treatment.

Studies on Drug Addiction as Caused by Genetics
Geneticists have invested a great deal of time and money researching the whys and wherefores of the genetics of drug addiction. There are around 100,000 genes, 40,000 of which may or may not be expressed in the brain where drugs exhibit their effect, so this is no simple feat. As more is discovered about the genetic link between family members who are addicts, more will be understood about how to prevent and treat drug addiction using this genetic information.

In the meantime, The Canyon specializes in bringing the most cutting edge treatments that research has proven to be effective. In fact, we have participated in 11 federally funded research projects that have focused on efficient and effective drug addiction treatment no matter what its original cause.



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