Genetic links to drug and alcohol use among young people

Young people who are genetically predisposed to risk-taking, low extraversion and schizophrenia are more likely to use alcohol, cigarettes, cannabis, or other illicit drugs, according to a new UCL-led study. The researchers say that the findings, published in Addiction Biology , are in line with the notion that people who are more vulnerable to psychopathology or certain personality traits are more inclined to try several types of drugs or use them to 'self-medicate'. They say their findings also align with theories that the brain's reward system is implicated in the use of multiple substances. While some people appear to be genetically predisposed to using multiple drug types, the researchers also found that some traits had different effects, depending on the substance. A genetic predisposition to high educational attainment predicted higher use of alcohol and illicit drugs, but lower use of cigarettes, while predisposition to high body mass index had the opposite correlations. The researchers hope their findings could inform strategies for the prevention and treatment of substance use disorders. Senior author Dr Jean-Baptiste Pingault (UCL Psychology & Language Sciences) said: "Our findings support the ongoing development of prevention programmes that are tailored based on the psychological and personality profiles of adolescents.