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Genetics of Opiate Addiction

  • Genetic Disorders (W Berrettini, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Addiction to MOP-r agonists such as heroin (and also addiction to prescription opioids) has reemerged as an epidemic in the twenty first century, causing massive morbidity. Understanding the genetics contributing to susceptibility to this disease is crucial for the identification of novel therapeutic targets, and also for discovery of genetic markers which would indicate relative protection or vulnerability from addiction, and relative responsiveness to pharmacotherapy. This information could thus eventually inform clinical practice. In this review, we focus primarily on association studies of heroin and opiate addiction, and further describe the studies which have been replicated in this field, and are thus more likely to be useful for translational efforts.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Brian Reed, Eduardo R. Butelman, Vadim Yuferov, Matthew Randesi, and Mary Jeanne Kreek declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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  1. The Laboratory of the Biology of Addictive Diseases, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA

    Brian Reed, Eduardo R. Butelman, Vadim Yuferov, Matthew Randesi & Mary Jeanne Kreek

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  1. Brian Reed
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  2. Eduardo R. Butelman
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  3. Vadim Yuferov
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Correspondence to Mary Jeanne Kreek.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Genetic Disorders

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Reed, B., Butelman, E.R., Yuferov, V. et al. Genetics of Opiate Addiction. Curr Psychiatry Rep 16, 504 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-014-0504-6

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