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Genetics

Brief Description

Why do some people become addicted while others don't? Family studies that include identical twins, fraternal twins, adoptees, and siblings suggest that as much as half of a person’s risk of becoming addicted to nicotine, alcohol, or other drugs depends on his or her genetic makeup. Pinning down the biological basis for this risk is an important avenue of research for scientists trying to solve the problem of drug addiction. Learn more

Related Publications

Science of Addiction Cover

Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction

Published April 2007. Revised July 2014. Provides scientific information about the disease of drug addiction, including the many harmful consequences of drug abuse and the basic approaches that have been developed to prevent and treat the disease. En Español

Publication Cover

Comorbidity: Addiction and Other Mental Illnesses

Published December 2008. Revised September 2010. Introduces a report that focuses on the topic of comorbid drug use disorders and other mental illnesses, a research priority for NIDA.

Understanding Drug Use and Addiction

Revised August 2016. Provides an overview of drug use and addiction, including what happens in the brain during drug use, why some people become addicted while others don’t, and the importance of prevention. En Español

Genetics and Epigenetics of Addiction

Revised February 2016. Explores the role of genetics and epigenetics in the development and treatment of drug abuse and addiction.

Comorbidity: Addiction and Other Mental Disorders

Revised March 2011. Offers basic facts about comorbidity between drug use disorders and other mental illnesses, including why these disorders can co-occur, how common they are, and how they are diagnosed and treated. En Español

Other Resources

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This page was last updated February 2016

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