Workgroup Directs Search for Genes That Influence Addiction
About half of a person's risk for drug dependence resides in his or her genes, with the rest attributable to circumstantial and environmental factors. Genes influence vulnerability to drug abuse by affecting personality traits, physiological responses to drugs, frequency of drug use, and the neurobiological mechanisms of learning, memory, and behavior. NIDA funds a robust research portfolio to identify the genes and genetic processes responsible for these effects. The ultimate objective is to uncover information and mechanisms that can be exploited to improve and personalize prevention and