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Sunday, October 25, 2009

Initial Evidence of an Association Between OPRM1 and Adolescent Alcohol Misuse
Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research Early View 23 Oct 2009

Considerable research efforts have attempted to identify genes associated with alcoholism among adults, yet few studies have examined adolescents. Identifying genes associated with alcohol misuse in youth is important given that the relative contribution of genetic and environmental influences on alcoholism varies across development.

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between a polymorphism of the μ-opioid receptor gene (OPRM1) and alcohol misuse in a sample of youth and to test whether heightened sensitivity to the reinforcing effects of alcohol mediated this relationship.

These data build on findings from adult studies and provide the first evidence that a polymorphism of the OPRM1 receptor gene is associated with the development of early-onset alcohol-related problems during adolescence, in part, by heightening sensitivity to the reinforcing effects of alcohol.


Request Reprint E-Mail: robert_miranda_jr@brown.edu

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