Abstract
Concurrent alcohol dependence poses a significant burden to health and wellbeing of people with established opioid dependence. Although previous research indicates that both genetic and environmental risk factors contribute to the development of drug or alcohol dependence, the role of genetic determinants in development of concurrent alcohol and opioid dependence has not been scrutinised. To search for genetic pre-determinants of concurrent alcohol and opioid dependence, electronic literature searches were completed using MEDLINE (PubMed) and EBSCO (Academic Search Complete) databases. Reference lists of included studies were also searched. In this discussion paper, we provide an overview of the genes (n=33) which are associated with the opioid, serotonergic, dopaminergic, GABA-ergic, cannabinoid, and metabolic systems for each dependency (i.e., alcohol or opioid) separately. The current evidence base is inconclusive regarding an exclusively genetic pre-determinant of concurrent alcohol and opioid dependence. Further search strategies and original research are needed to determine the genetic basis for concurrent alcohol and opioid dependency.
Highlights
Concurrent alcohol dependence poses a significant burden to the healthcare of people with established opioid dependence[2]
Multiple studies have confirmed that both gene–gene and gene–environment interactions contribute to the development of drug dependence or alcohol dependence alone[4]
Alcohol dependence has been associated with polymorphisms in genes coding for opioid receptors, serotonin receptors, GABA-ergic receptors, nicotinic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, CREB genes involved in familial predisposition to alcohol and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH)[5]
Summary
Concurrent alcohol dependence poses a significant burden to health and wellbeing of people with established opioid dependence. Previous research indicates that both genetic and environmental risk factors contribute to the development of drug or alcohol dependence, the role of genetic determinants in development of concurrent alcohol and opioid dependence has not been scrutinised. Reference lists of included studies were searched. In this discussion paper, we provide an overview of the genes (n = 33) which are associated with the opioid, serotonergic, dopaminergic, GABA-ergic, cannabinoid and metabolic systems for each dependency (i.e. alcohol or opioid) separately. Concurrent alcohol dependence poses a significant burden to the healthcare of people with established opioid dependence[2]. Multiple studies have confirmed that both gene–gene and gene–environment interactions contribute to the development of drug dependence or alcohol dependence alone[4]. Genome-wide association studies of multiple addictions have discussed potential
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
