Vol. 3, No. 3, 1997 Page 5 |
Two groups of researchers, one in Israel and another in the United States, recently reported finding a "novelty-seeking" gene-a long form of the D4 dopamine receptor (D4DR) gene that occurs more often in risk-takers than in more cautious people (see related article, Crime Times, Vol. 2, No. 1, Page 6). A new study by the Israeli team indicates that people addicted to heroin and other opiates also have a significantly increased likelihood of carrying the long variant of the D4DR gene.
M. Kotler and colleagues studied 141 heroin addicts, and report that "the long alleles [variants of the gene] were significantly over-represented in the opioid dependent cohort." The researchers note that the finding is not surprising because "a number of f f f studies have also shown that novelty seeking is prominent in substance abusers."
Kotler et al. say animal studies and human twin studies suggest that heredity plays a strong role in the development of drug dependence. The gene variant they have linked to heroin abuse, however, increases the risk of drug use only modestly; this, Kotler r r r r et al. say, "suggests that additional genes may eventually be identified that also predispose to addictive behavior in humans."
"Excess dopamine D4 receptor (D4DR) exon III seven repeat allele in opioid dependent subjects," M. Kotler, H. Cohen, R. Segman, I. Gritsenko, L. Nemanov, B. Lerer, I. Kramer, M. Zer-Zion, I. Kletz, and R. P. Ebstein, Molecular Psychiatry, Vol. 2, No. 3 3 3 3, May 1997, pp. 251-254. Address: Richard P. Ebstein, Research Laboratory, S. Herzog Memorial Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
"Sensation-seeking, criminality, and spinal cord injury: a case-control study," A. R. Mawson, J. J. Biundo, Jr., D. I. Clemmer, K. W. Jacobs, V. K. Ktsanes, and J. C. Rice, American Journal of Epidemiology, Vol. 144, No. 5, September 1, 1996, pp. 4 4 4 463-472. Address: A. R. Mawson, Department of Medicine, Louisiana State University Medical Center, 433 Bolivar St., New Orleans, LA 70112.