The
Loveline
Companion

This is something I've never heard brought up on the show before. Is the genetic susceptibility to addiction dominant or recessive?

—Dark Laith

Dominant or recessive traits refers to a single-gene feature (e.g., eye color). Not all single-gene features are strictly dominant or recessive, either. (For example, some are blending traits, such as skin color.)

Addiction, like all sets of complex behaviors (sexuality, intelligence) depends on the intricate interaction of dozens, perhaps hundreds, of genes, not to mention the complex influence of environment.

It doesn't even make sense to ask whether something as complex as addiction is dominant or recessive. However, if there is a history of alcoholism or drug addiction in your biological family, then play it safe and act as if you have the potential to become an addict.

—commie

Interesting. Why does Drew keep talking about "the gene" for addiction? Is that just his crude shorthand for the tendency of addiction to run in families?

—Saffeau

I had the same impression as you, Saffeau. But from a cursory Google search:

" There are thousands of genes in our body and each gene serves a different function. Researchers have discovered that one of the genes is responsible for the sensation of pleasure. Roughly 10 percent of the population has a variation of this pleasure-seeking gene, known as the A-1 variation. People with the A-1 variation have fewer receptor cells in the brain for dopamine, the chemical associated with pleasure. That may inhibit their ability to feel “normal” levels of pleasure. Addictive behaviors boost the production of dopamine, which may increase stimulation to those few pleasure receptors. Investigators have found 50 percent of patients with addiction problems have the A-1 gene variation. The researchers theorize the need for pleasure-receptor stimulation may lead to the development of addictive behaviors." (http://www.wtajtv.com/health/addicgen.html)

Not coincidentally, drdrew.com is the first search result for "addiction gene".

—Mahalo

In a part of Australia there is a tree which has leaves that the native Australians used, in older times, for chewing, much like tobacco leaves. This was a relaxing and recreational habit. When European settlers tried the leaves they experienced powerful effects including violent nausea and strong hallucinations. Young strong male Europeans had less resistance to the leaves than the oldest women among the native Australians.
The native Australians have stereotypically taken to alcohol with addictive and destructive abandon (as is also slurred of natives of North America). Stereotypes aside, studies and colloquial knowledge show that native Australians generally have far less tolerance to the effects of alcohol than European people.

Communities of long-standing isolation such as island peoples (Hawaii) and desert peoples (south USA/Mexico region) have very high instances of obesity following the introduction of (cheap) canned and otherwise food with levels of salt, sugar and fat far larger than that with which the people of those communities are accustomed to consuming. Diets were lean and harsh for these people and their ages-old genetic make-up is struggling to come to terms with diet changing from first to fifth (or fifth to first) gear in one generation.

Genetics, cool, genetics. What the body does when the mind is on auto-pilot.

—MajandraFan

Thanks, Mahalo. Interesting article. I wonder if Dr. Drew will ever address this topic in greater detail on the show.

—Saffeau

Maybe someone should call in and ask?

—Dark Laith

i called one time to ask drew this very question. Being a pretty intelligent bio major from a pretty good university, I wanted to get into different chromosome positionings, expressions or non-expressions, allels, etc of this so called 'adiction gene' and what research has been done to identify the specific loci (if there is one) for this gene and to ultimately have some sort of way to combat this genetic predisposition. Unfortunately, phone screener brian thought the question would be too over the heads of the loveline junior college tard audience and told me that he wouldn't allow the question on.

I have wanted to talk to drew about serious research questions, but unfortunately i guess Loveline isn't the venue for this type of higher discussion. I am left with hearing the 99 millionth 'Why can't i orgasm with intercourse' question....

"... speaking of stink ... i think i smell junior college" - Ace

—Tyler

It's pretty sad that they can't allow even one semi-technical question on the air. The producers obviously think that if Drew spends two minutes talking about something like genetics, the whole Loveline audience will tune out forever. That's why I'm growing more and more bored with the show. Tell me again why I can't orgasm during intercourse, because I don't think I quite got Drew's answer the last 5,734 times.

—hick truck

commie answered most of what I think Drew would say. Something I would like to add (and that I've heard Drew talk about) is that the "gene(s)" in question basically give you a predisposition towards addiction, not a mandated condition. So imagine identical twins with the so-called addiction genes, one raised in L.A., and one raised in the mountains of Tibet. Since the environment in L.A. is more conducive to developing addictive behavior, the L.A. twin has a much greater chance of having addiction than the Tibet twin. The Tibet twin has very little exposure to any addictive substances or stimuli at all.

PPM

—Passionate, Passionate Man

very good point ppm. and very true, i concur indeed! It is unfortunate though that all we hear on loveline calls are the f-ed up people from LA that have the predisposition and have gone down the road. I wish sometimes we'd get more happy calls from the Tibetian twin who had the predisposition and turned out pretty kick-ass!

—Tyler