Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 19, 2026

Comprehensive Analysis of Transcription Dynamics from Brain Samples Following Behavioral Experience
Published on: August 26, 2014
Epigenetics of drug abuse: predisposition or response
David A Nielsen1, Amol Utrankar, Jennifer A Reyes
1Menninger Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine & the Michael E DeBakey VA Medical Center, 2002 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA. nielsen@bcm.edu
Abstract:
Drug addiction continues to be a serious medical and social problem. Vulnerability to develop an addiction to drugs is dependent on genetic, environmental, social and biological factors. In particular, the interactions of environmental and genetic factors indicate the significance of epigenetic mechanisms, which have been found to occur in response to illicit drug use or as underlying factors in chronic substance abuse and relapse. Epigenetics is defined as the heritable and possibly reversible modifications in gene expression that do not involve alterations in the DNA sequence. This review discusses the various types of epigenetic modifications and their relevance to drug addiction to elucidate whether epigenetics is a predisposing factor, or a response to, developing an addiction to drugs of abuse.
Related Concept Videos
Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena
Human Genetics
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics: Overview
Drug toxicity: Idiosyncratic Reactions
Pharmacogenetic Phenotypes: Alterations in Pharmacokinetics, Drug Targets and Biologic Milieu
Factors Affecting Drug Response: Overview

