Real Teens Ask: Is Addiction Hereditary?

Does someone in your family abuse drugs? Learn more about how DNA can influence a person’s chances of becoming addicted to drugs in this updated post from 2011.
Every year, NIDA’s top scientists answer questions from teens at schools across the country during Drug Facts Chat Day. In 2010, “I AM MIKE” from Jefferson Township High School in Trenton, New Jersey asked:
Are you more likely to do drugs if someone in your family does?
The short answer is Yes.
The risk for developing drug and alcohol problems is higher in children whose parents abuse alcohol or drugs—but it is NOT a guarantee that those children will either use drugs or become addicted. In fact, most children of parents who abuse alcohol or drugs do not develop alcoholism or addiction themselves.
But, research shows that children with parents who abuse alcohol or drugs are more likely to try these substances and develop alcoholism or drug addiction.
Why? Because children whose parents abuse alcohol and drugs:

Are more likely to have behavioral problems, which increase the risk for trying alcohol or drugs.

Have more opportunities to try these substances.
Children may inherit a genetic predisposition (or greater likelihood) for addiction—having an “addictive personality,” so to speak. But, again most children of parents who abuse alcohol or drugs do not develop alcoholism or addiction themselves.
This means that even if you inherited a risk for addiction, it does not mean that it is your destiny to b...

Source: NIDA Drugs and Health Blog - July 2, 2014 Category: Addiction Authors: Sara Bellum Source Type: blogs