Peer drug-use ‘ups an individual’s genetic tendency to use drugs’
June 22nd, 2010 - 5:31 pm ICT by ANIWashington, June 22 (ANI): A young woman’s exposure to peers or friends who smoke or drink increases her own likelihood of substance use, according to a new research.
In a study of over 2,000 female twins, researchers from Washington University in St. Louis looked for links between two types of data: 1) women in the sample who regularly used tobacco, alcohol, or drugs and 2) women whose friends were involved in regular substance use.
The links they found showed that genetic vulnerability to regular use of alcohol, cigarettes and cannabis is exacerbated by exposure to friends who use alcohol, cigarettes and drugs.
Simply speaking, increasing affiliations with drug-using peers is correlated with a more ‘genetic’ form of regular substance use.
According to lead author Dr. Arpana Agrawal, “Nature and nurture don’t just combine to produce a woman who smokes, drinks, or uses drugs - nurture can also increase the effect of nature.”
The study is published in the academic journal Addiction. (ANI)
- Social networking teens may turn drinks, drugs addicted - Aug 26, 2011
- Mums abused in childhood more likely to have low-birth weight babies - Mar 30, 2011
- Tobacco control is most cost-effective way to prevent cancer - Feb 04, 2010
- Psychotic illness 'begins at younger age among those who use cannabis' - Feb 08, 2011
- Male foetuses more vulnerable to alcohol - Mar 24, 2011
- Kids born to smoking mums 'more likely to become smokers' - Mar 22, 2011
- Why some kids are harmed by mum's drinking, but others aren't - Mar 24, 2011
- Financial woes push older people to alcohol, smoking - Nov 14, 2011
- Teens keeping late nights might be into risky behaviour - Mar 05, 2012
- Alcohol 'more dangerous than crack cocaine' study provokes anger - Nov 02, 2010
- Genetic changes responsible for sweet tooth - Apr 05, 2011
- Tobacco tax hike could curb smoking - Jun 03, 2010
- Use, misuse of alcohol and marijuana influenced by common set of genes - Dec 19, 2009
- Moderate drinking reduces mortality among older adults - Aug 25, 2010
- Teens who listen to music about marijuana almost twice likely to use it - Dec 23, 2009
Tags: 2 women, academic journal, affiliations, agrawal, alcohol, arpana, cannabis, cigarettes, drinks, drug use, female twins, genetic tendency, genetic vulnerability, journal addiction, likelihood, peers, tobacco, ups, washington university in st louis, young woman