Abstract
Polysubstance use (PSU) is highly prevalent among college students. Recent evidence indicates that PSU is based on gene x environment (G×E) interactions, yet the specific biosocial factors underlying this problem remain elusive. We recently reported that lifetime use of tobacco and cannabis in college students is influenced by the interaction of the X-linked MAOA (monoamine oxidase A) gene and child maltreatment. Building on these premises, here we evaluated whether the same G×E interaction may also predict PSU in this population. Students of a large Midwestern university (n = 470; 50.9% females) took part in a computer survey for substance use, as well as childhood trauma exposure, using the Child Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). DNA was extracted from their saliva samples and genotyped for MAOA variable-number of tandem repeat (VNTR) variants. Findings indicated that the highest number of substances were used by male students harboring low-activity MAOA alleles with a history of childhood emotional abuse. In contrast, female homozygous high-activity MAOA carriers with a history of emotional and physical abuse reported consumption of the greatest number of substances. Our results indicate that PSU among college students is influenced by the interaction of MAOA and child maltreatment in a sex-specific fashion. Further studies are warranted to understand the mechanisms of sex differences in the biosocial interplays underlying PSU in this at-risk group.
Highlights
Polysubstance use (PSU) is a major health concern that has garnered much attention from clinicians and researchers, due to its robust association with substance use disorders and other negative outcomes throughout the lifespan (McCabe et al, 2006; Trenz et al, 2012; Moss et al, 2014)
The results of the current study showed that, in a sample of students enrolled in a large Midwestern university, PSU was predicted by the interaction of MAOA uVNTR allelic variants, sex, and specific child maltreatment types
The highest number of substances used was found in MAOA-L male and MAOA-HH female carriers with a history of emotional abuse
Summary
Polysubstance use (PSU) is a major health concern that has garnered much attention from clinicians and researchers, due to its robust association with substance use disorders and other negative outcomes throughout the lifespan (McCabe et al, 2006; Trenz et al, 2012; Moss et al, 2014). A history of maltreatment predisposes female carriers of high-activity alleles (MAOA-H) or male MAOA-L carriers to a greater risk of alcohol use (Nilsson et al, 2011) In alignment with these findings, we found that greater lifetime tobacco use was predicted by the interaction of childhood maltreatment and MAOA-L variants in males and MAOA-H alleles in females (Fite et al, 2018). Given these premises, the present study tested the hypothesis that the same gene x environment (G×E) interactions may predispose to PSU in college students and analyzed whether the influence of these biosocial interplays may follow a sexdimorphic pattern
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