THE OLYMPIA SCHOOLS

______________________________

RESEARCH PAPER
The Nexus of Epigenetic Modulations, Genetic
Predisposition, and Environmental Factors in Shaping
Addictive Behaviors

Student name: Nguyen Thanh Long

Teacher: Dawid Johannes Sadie – Nguyen Hoang Minh
Subject: English
Class: 11E1.3
Institution: The Olympia Schools
Date: 28 – 09 – 2023
 Abstract

Addiction is a continuously relapsing neuropsychiatric disorder that affects some, but not

all, people who consume substances. Little is known about the factors that contribute to

individual variances in addiction susceptibility. The etiology of addiction is underpinned by

neural gene expression control, which is mediated by epigenetic processes like as DNA

alterations. A increasing amount of evidence suggests that different DNA methylation patterns in

brain reward regions may be linked to addiction susceptibility. Furthermore, characteristics

influencing addiction vulnerability have a DNA epigenetic base. This research examines the idea

that addiction susceptibility has an underlying DNA epigenetic foundation in this review. I center

on the major phenotypes of addiction susceptibility and examine evidence of cell type-specific,

time-dependent, and gender-biased impacts of drug use.

Addiction vulnerability is determined by genetic variables, and interactions between

intrinsic propensity, environmental conditions, and personal experiences are also important.

Understanding individual differences that contribute to substance use beginning, as well as long-

term maladaptation driving compulsive drug use and relapse likelihood, is crucial to reducing

this deadly condition. We explore contemporary topics in the realm of addiction, such as

individual sensitivity connected to behavioral endophenotypes, brain circuits, genetics, and

epigenetic pathways, in this work. It is critical to have a better understanding of these

characteristics in order to improve and customize preventative and treatment efforts in the future.

This research highlights the significance of DNA epigenetics in these various processes

and proposes that it contributes to differences in addiction susceptibility. Given the prevalence of

addiction and the lack of effective therapies, discovering the DNA epigenetic mechanism of

addiction vulnerability could be a quick way to reduce the disease burden.

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 Table of contents

I. Introduction……………………………………………………………………..

II. Literature Review-

III. Discussion

IV. Conclusion

V. Reference list
I – Introduction
A. Hook (a short story, example, statistic, or historical context that

introduces the paper topic)

To begin, I'd like to discuss my reason for conducting a study on this topic. I visited an

Australian science lab in the summer of 2023. It was held at Melbourne University, and they

studied virtually every aspect of psychology, including cognitive psychology, biological

psychology, and humanistic psychology. Then I had the opportunity to speak with a college

student studying psychology. After our conversation, I was inspired by a variety of fields that

psychology covers, despite the fact that my major is hospitality, and the one I found most

interesting was psychological on addictive behavior; I want to learn why people become addicted

and how biological factors such as epigenetic or environmental factors play a role. Furthermore,

I know that many of my friends my age are addicted to pod, vape, funky ball, and Cannabis. That

is why this research will not only validate my desire but will also allow me to make a small

contribution to society.

B. Research question: Concisely state the research question.

C. Thesis statement: Answer the question. State own opinion. Tell what the
overall paper will focus on. Briefly outline the main points in the paper.

II – Literature Review: Analyze the context and history of the topic, together with the existing

arguments.

For decades, the" Nature” vs “Nurture" argument has dominated psychology and

behavioral lores, including addiction. The field has traditionally been moldered by two major

seminaries of thinking. On the one hand, experimenters concentrated on inheritable features

connected with dependence vulnerability, with clinical examinations revealing that the actuality

of specific inheritable labels and associated rates contributes significantly to the development of

this pathological complaint. Although there's now contestation about the reproducibility of

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findings from small sample sizes in numerous mortal inheritable studies, as well as the need for

genome-wide association analyses, preclinical beast models have also offered several

substantiation of inheritable liaison. In the alcohol arena, for illustration, inheritable selection

was employed to separate perceptivity features in certain rat and mouse strains( Ciccocioppo,

2013). On the other hand, it's known that the development of clinical medicine dependence is

impacted by a variety of fresh aspects that are inclusively appertained to as" environmental

factors"( Belcher etal., 2014; Goldman etal., 2005). Stress, life, education, and particular gests

are exemplifications of similar influences. Binary relinquishment studies, which show an fresh

effect of environmental factors in identical inheritable backgrounds, give fresh substantiation for

the involvement of the terrain.

When we searching for "addiction genes," what we truly understand are biological

variations that may make a person more or less susceptible to addiction. Everyone reacts

differently to drugs and medications. Perhaps you've even had the experience. Assume you take a

drug that is effective. However, the identical drug has no effect on one friend while making

another sick. Differences like these are frequently caused by genetic differences. When scientists

explore for addiction-related genes, they look for genetic variants that are linked to these types of

responses.

As an example of how epigenetic factors affect the addictive behaviors, consider the

well-known addictive chemical, drugs. So, in order to establish this type of addiction, we must

first experience with drug use. Examine drug abusers; they take drugs on a regular basis, raising

the probability of drug addiction. From then, drug use, the chemical components in drugs, may

influence your DNA methylation; I will explain how this will effect your gene afterward.

According to studies, genetics account for almost half of a person's chance of developing a drug

addiction. This means that some genes passed down in your family may predispose you to drug

addiction. It is critical to consider these two elements together in order to evaluate your risk for

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drug addiction. Epigenetics is used by academics to explain substance abuse. This is the study of

how elements in your environment might influence how your genetic code functions. Epigenetics

explains why one identical twin may become addicted to drugs while the other does not. The

twins were born with identical genes. As a result, they are genetically predisposed to drug

addiction. However, as they get older, the twins may be exposed to diverse influences. They will

develop differently, changing their particular risk of addiction. Although addictive behaviors do

not directly change DNA structure, the chemical compounds found in addictive substances such

as cocaine and drugs can induce genetic abnormalities. A genetic condition is an illness caused in

whole or in part by a deviation from the usual DNA sequence. A mutation in one gene

(monogenic disorder), mutations in multiple genes (multifactorial inheritance disorder), a

combination of gene mutations and environmental factors, or chromosome damage (changes in

the number or structure of entire chromosomes, the structures that carry genes) can all cause

genetic disorders. And the gene that adults contain is passed down from generation to generation;

it does not make their child addicted to the same substances that their parents were, but they will

become addicted to these substances easier and quicker because, in their DNA structures, they

already contain a small piece of DNA that they inherited from the previous generation, it affects

the epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone codes, and miRNA expression.

It has been discovered that illegal drug use causes epigenetic alterations in DNA

methylation and chromatin remodeling. The epigenetic state of chromatin could have a role in

the development of persistent substance misuse. Addiction-related drugs cause epigenetic

changes that control transcription. Changes in gene expression may have an impact on reward,

psychomotor activity, drug seeking, and relapse. Epigenetic variables such as DNA methylation

and histone changes may influence an individual's predisposition to developing drug addiction,

sensitivity to substances of abuse, or responsiveness to pharmacotherapy for addictions.

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 Epigenetic mechanisms play a role in behavioral addiction and neural plasticity. The

modification of genes has been linked to the long-term development of cocaine addiction. The

accumulation of the transcription factor subunit lFosB, a shortened splice form of FosB, in the

striatum of the brain is a hallmark of the administration of many stimulants, opioids, and

depressants, and it represents gene activation. Cocaine administration, in both acute and chronic

investigations, resulted in both rapid and long-term changes in gene expression via epigenetic

modifications. Cocaine activates both c-fos (also known as cFos or Fos) and FosB expression in

rodent studies. A single acute cocaine injection immediately enhances immediate early gene

expression in the nucleus accumbens, including expression of c-fos, indicating a function for c-

fos in mediating the initial response to psychostimulants . Cocaine has been demonstrated to

hypomethylate the FosB promoter, decrease MeCP2 binding, and increase FosB expression in

the nucleus accumbens.

Cocaine's transgenerational effects have also been investigated. Cocaine exposure during

pregnancy has been shown to cause behavioral and physiological changes in the children. In

mice, maternal cocaine exposure resulted in decreased global DNA methylation at P3 and

increased global DNA methylation at P30 in hippocampal pyramidal neurons. P30 elevated the

expression of DNMT1 and DMNT3a, but not DNMT3b. Cocaine exposure in the father has also

been demonstrated to influence physical and behavioral impairments in pups, indicating a role

for transgenerational effects that originate in the fathers and are passed through the germ cells.

These research on the biological parent-to-offspring effects of cocaine administration are

especially noteworthy because they highlight the transgenerational diseases that chronic cocaine

use can cause. Despite substantial study into the socioeconomic and psychological impacts of

parental cocaine use on offspring, inherited genetic and epigenetic effects are critical for

understanding the full hereditary impact of substance misuse.

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 The -opioid receptor, expressed by the OPRM1 gene, is crucial to the development of

opioid addiction. It is the target for heroin's bioactive derivatives, most opioid analgesic

medicines, and endogenous ligands, enkephalins and -endorphin. Increased OPRM1 promoter

methylation and histone deacetylation have been observed to be linked with lower OPRM1

mRNA expression in vitro. OPRM1 is activated during P19 cell differentiation when the

transcription factor Sp1 and the chromatin remodeling proteins Brg1 and BAF155 bind to the

OPRM1 promoter . Concurrently, histone deacetylase and the repressors mSin3a, Brm, and

MeCP2 were dissociated. Brg1 recruitment may increase MeCP2 dissociation with simultaneous

histone modification to stimulate OPRM1 expression . Sodium butyrate inhibits histone

deacetylase function, which improves morphine-induced conditioned place preference and

locomotor sensitization but has no effect on morphine dependence or tolerance. In rodents,

opioid exposure has been shown to have transgenerational effects. Female adult offspring of

dams treated with morphine for 10 days prior to mating displayed more anxiety-like behavior

than control dams, and male offspring of treated dams developed tolerance to chronic morphine

more quickly. As a result, although maternal behavior or prenatal environmental changes cannot

be ruled out, the epigenetic effects of dams' earlier opioid exposure may be passed on to the next

generation, affecting morphine sensitivity and anxiety-like behavior.

Aside from epigenetic factors environmental influences have a significant impact on

addictive behavior. These are the things that have an affect on addicts both directly and

indirectly. To demonstrate this, I will go over the problem step by step.

Aside from epigenetic factors environmental influences have a significant impact on

addictive behavior. These are the things that have an affect on addicts both directly and

indirectly. To demonstrate this, I will go over the problem step by step.

Early life experiences are one of the most powerful extrinsic factors influencing addictive

behavior. Family interactions, parenting styles, and degrees of supervision all play important

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roles in the development of later mental health problems, including substance abuse. It acquire

stress-coping techniques in our early childhood. When these tactics are maladaptive, they can

lead to dangerous or self-destructive conduct. This indicates that external influences activate

these internal triggers during adolescence or maturity. Authoritarian and avoidant parenting,

physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, and divorce have all been linked to a higher risk of

substance use problems later in life.

According to a Harvard University study, social media is also a source of addiction. This

explains why social media has an impact on our emotions and thoughts. When someone battling

with emotional issues sees other individuals online who appear to be cheerful, attractive, and

having a good time, it can make them feel even more socially alienated, undermine their self-

esteem, and worsen feelings of shame. There is mounting evidence that increased social media

use can exacerbate the mental health problems of people who are already vulnerable.

Unfortunately, it seems unlikely that this trend will change in the near future, despite the fact that

a number of groups and influencers are emerging who are putting their flaws and challenges on

display in an effort to combat stigma and shame.

Furthermore, when an individual's social interactions rely largely on associating with

people who have potential alcohol or drug problems, it can be difficult to exorcise yourself from

similarly hazardous activities. A key role in the maintenance of addiction is a sense of belonging

and connection to like-minded others. This is one of the primary strategies that has influenced

one own substance usage and that of many of the people I work with. As a result of social

pressure, everyone in the group will undoubtedly adopt the habits and behavior patterns of their

friends. Individuals with more permissive and less critical attitudes about drug use are more

likely to engage in such usage (clearly), and earlier use and exposure are often connected with a

higher chance of subsequent difficulties.

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 The physical environment can also produce a wide range of triggers for addicts. These

locations can be linked to cravings, from going to the local pub for "after-work drinks" to sitting

at the kitchen table when you're home alone. Repeated actions can condition behaviors to a

specific environment or circumstance, and it can be challenging to break these learned habits.

When a physical location and the individuals inside it are both linked to alcohol or drug abuse,

these triggers may be magnified. Studies like Conditioned Place Preference have shown that

responses to and expectations for how medications are delivered and have an effect can develop

after just three to four exposures to a certain environment and last there until the "spell" is

broken.

III – Discussion: State your own arguments. Use strong evidence from sources
– paraphrases, summaries and quotations that support the main points.

In my opinion, and this is just what I'm going to say, epigenetics is a factor that indirectly

increases the risk of addiction. Scientists and researchers have demonstrated this through

numerous studies, including Information on smoking and alcohol use behaviors was gathered by

a multinational team of more than 100 scientists using a comprehensive database.

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They tracked habits including the age at which people started smoking, the age at which they

stopped, how many cigarettes they smoked each day, and how many beverages they consumed

each week. The researchers then compared their findings to information about life events, such

as years of education, physical traits, such as heart rate or cholesterol level, and illnesses

experienced, such as mental illnesses or Type 2 diabetes. The researchers compared those

findings with particular genes thought to be associated with different types of substance abuse.

The discovery that the genome has over 400 sites and at least 566 variations that affect drinking

or smoking has advanced the search for gene clusters that might contribute to addiction. Even

novel genes and activities that weren't anticipated to be significant in addiction were discovered

by the investigation. All of the measured smoking and drinking characteristics mapped to three

of the genetic regions (designated as CUL3).

Due to the impact that addiction results in, I strongly belive that genes do matter in

addiction. Genetic factors can be connected to at least 50% of a person's predisposition to drug

addiction. Speakers during a congressional hearing on April 8 discussed recent findings on the

genetic basis of addiction and offered suggestions for how to apply them to care. To do this,

researchers must first dispel public mistrust and misunderstanding of genetic testing. Therefore,

it is important for the general public and medical professionals to comprehend how genetics and

addiction interact. Only 5% of primary care doctors, according to a nationwide poll, are

confidence in their ability to interpret genetic tests, and only 4% are confident in recommending

treatments based on genetics.

According to Nora Volkow, MD, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, there

are several very important reasons for physicians to be aware of the effects that developments in

genetic testing are likely to have on their capacity to treat patients. In order to effectively prevent

and treat drug abuse and addiction, she stated, "it is essential to understand the complex

interactions between the factors involved in these behaviors." Doctors may soon be able to use

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genetic tests in their practices, enabling them to better match particular treatments to patients, as

a result to the rapidly growing body of fresh data.

For instance, Volkow mentioned that one day it may be possible to determine a person's

likelihood of developing an addiction to drugs like alcohol, cocaine, or heroin based on the

quantity of a particular type of dopamine receptor known as D2. According to brain imaging,

those with fewer D2 receptors than those with many of the receptors are more likely to develop

addictions. The number of D2 receptors an individual has is, in part, genetically influenced.

Propensity isn't destiny, of course; contextual circumstances also come into play, Volkow

continued. A person must first experiment with drugs before using them frequently. At that

moment, genetic predisposition influences who develops an addiction.

According to University of Pennsylvania psychologist Caryn Lerman, PhD, genetics play

a role in around 75% of a person's propensity to start smoking. Additionally, 60% of the

propensity to get addicted and 54% of the capacity to stop are determined by genes.

It is possible to use hereditary characteristics to ascertain the most effective method of

quitting smoking because not all smokers are made equally. For instance, whether a nicotine

patch or a nicotine nasal spray will function better over time depends on the genetically set rate

at which the body can metabolize nicotine.

A deeper comprehension of biology will enable us to tailor treatments to each smoker

individually, according to Lerman.

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IV – Conclusion:
A. Summary of main points
B. Significance of the research

V – Reference list
Correct citations for every source you have used in your research paper.

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