Jeffrey Robarge

Examination : The Genetic Risk Factors in Drug Addiction

The National Institute on Drug Abuse supports a major research effort aimed at discovering the genes that increase a person's risk of drug addiction. DNA is the blueprint for every cell in the body and contains instructions on how specific proteins are produced. Many of these proteins are critical to the body's function, including the ability to fight off infections. Researchers have identified certain gene sequences that indicate a higher risk of addiction.