Researchers find cocaine abuse could be genetic in Caucasians

By Staff Writer

A study from Ohio State University found that approximately one in five Caucasians could carry a gene variant that could increase their odds of being susceptible to cocaine abuse.

Officials said that this gene variant can alter the brain's response to specific chemical signals. The study showed that individuals who possess the gene were three times more likely to be susceptible to severe cocaine abuse that could lead to fatal overdosing, compared to those without the gene.

Researchers found the gene in more than 40 percent of autopsy brain samples of cocaine abusers, compared to the 19 percent found in those who lived drug-free. They added that these variations affect how dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter that is responsible for regular function of the central nervous system, alters brain activity. Normally, when the chemical is released it leaves the brain feeling euphoric.

However, in those who carry the gene mutation, the function is altered and could set up a cycle of chemical signals that can lead to a craving for the substance. Researchers added that the brain thinks it needs the substance to maintain elevated levels of dopamine.

In a 2008 survey from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, nearly 5.3 million Americans age 12 and older reported using cocaine.