The public health implications of genetic research on addiction

doi:10.1017/CBO9781139058971.012

11 - The public health implications of genetic research on addiction

from Section 3 - Translating addiction research

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 September 2012

Wayne Hall and

Edited by

Audrey Chapman: Affiliation:
University of Connecticut School of Medicine

Book contents

Get access

Summary

Introduction

Genetic research has identified a number of genetic variants that are believed to increase the risk of developing addictive disorders or predict responses to treatments for these disorders (see Chapter 2 of this volume for a review of the genetic research on alcohol dependence). This research has the potential to enhance public health through improved prevention and treatment of addiction. Predictive genetic screening might be used to identify persons at a greater risk of developing addiction and prevent them from doing so. Pharmacogenetic research may enable clinicians to better match persons with addictive disorders to more effective treatments, thereby minimizing side effects and relapse.

As well as having the potential to improve public health, research identifying genes predictive of addiction liability and treatment response may also be misused or misinterpreted in ways that harm individual and population health. It may negatively influence community attitudes to persons with a genetic predisposition to addiction, resulting in stigmatization of such individuals (Berghmans et al., 2009). Individuals may interpret genetic risk information in a deterministic way and believe they are powerless to change their behavior or their risk of addiction. Genetic risk information about addiction liability may also be used in a discriminatory way by employers or insurance companies (Taylor et al., 2008). Alcohol and tobacco industries may misuse this research to discourage population-level interventions aimed at reducing hazardous alcohol consumption and increasing smoking cessation (Gundle et al., 2010; Miller et al., 2012).

Type: Chapter
Information: Genetic Research on Addiction
Ethics, the Law, and Public Health
, pp. 155 - 173

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139058971.012 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Book purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Anton, R. F.O’Maley, S. S.Ciraulo, D. A. 2006 Combined pharmacotherapies and behavioral interventions for alcohol dependence: the COMBINE study: a randomized controlled trialThe Journal of the American Medical Association 295 2003CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Audrain, J.Boyd, N. R.Roth, J. 1997 Genetic susceptibility testing in smoking-cessation treatment: One-year outcomes of a randomized trialAddictive Behaviors 22 741CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Babor, T.Miller, P.Edwards, G. 2010 Vested interests, addiction research and public policyAddiction 105 4CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

BBC News 2004 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4061137.stm

Bender, L.Silverman, L. M.Dinulos, M. B.Nickel, J.Grody, W. W. 2010 Direct-to-consumer genotyping: are we ready for a brave new world?Clinical Chemistry 56 1056Google Scholar PubMed

Berghmans, R.De Jong, J.Tibben, A.De Wert, G. 2009 On the biomedicalization of alcoholismTheoretical Medical Bioethics 30 311CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Berlin, I.Covey, L. S.Jiang, H.Hamer, D. 2005 Lack of effect of D2 dopamine receptor taqI A polymorphism on smoking cessationNicotine & Tobacco Research 7 725CrossRef Google Scholar

Berrettini, W.Wileyto, E. P.Epstein, L. 2007 Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT) gene variants predict response to bupropion therapy for tobacco dependenceBiological Psychiatry 61 111CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Boffetta, P.Hashibe, M. 2006 Alcohol and cancerLancet Oncology 7 149CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Buchman, D.Reiner, P. B. 2009 Stigma and addiction: being and becomingAmerican Journal of Bioethics 9 18CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Campbell, C. A.Hahn, R. A.Elder, R. 2009 The effectiveness of limiting alcohol outlet density as a means of reducing excessive alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harmsAmerican Journal of Preventative Medicine 37 556CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Capella, J. N.Lerman, C.Romantan, A.Baruh, L. 2005 News about genetics and smoking: Priming, family smoking history, and news story believability on inferences of genetic susceptibility to tobacco addictionCommunication Research 32 478CrossRef Google Scholar

Carlsten, C.Burke, W. 2006 Potential for genetics to promote public health: Genetics research on smoking suggests caution about expectationsJournal of the American Medical Association 296 2480CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Caulfield, T. 2011 Direct-to-consumer testing: if consumers are not anxious, why are policymakers?Human Genetics 130 23CrossRef Google Scholar

Chapman, S.Mackenzie, R. 2010 The global research neglect of unassisted smoking cessation: causes and consequencesPLoS Medicine 7 e1000216CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Christensen, K. D.Jayaratne, T. E.Roberts, J. S.Kardia, S. L.Petty, E. M. 2010 Understandings of basic genetics in the United States: results from a national survey of black and white men and womenPublic Health Genomics 13 467CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Clayton, D. G. 2009 Prediction and interaction in complex disease genetics: experience in type 1 diabetesPLoS Genetics 5 1000540CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Coors, M. E.Raymond, K. M. 2009 Substance use disorder genetic research: investigators and participants grapple with the ethical issuesPsychiatric Genetics 19 83CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Dackis, C.O’Brien, C. 2005 Neurobiology of addiction: Treatment and public policy ramificationsNature Neuroscience 8 1431CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Dahl, J. P.Jepson, C. R.Wileyto, E. P. 2006 Interaction between variation in the D2 dopamine receptor () and the neuronal calcium sensor-1 () genes in predicting response to nicotine replacement therapy for tobacco dependencePharmacogenomics 6 194CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

David, S. P.Munafò, M. R.Murphy, M. F. G.Walton, R. T.Johnstone, E. C. 2007 The serotonin transporter polymorphism and treatment response to nicotine patch: Follow-up of a randomized controlled trialNicotine & Tobacco Research 9 225CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

De Francesco, L. 2006 Genetic profiteeringNature Biotechnology 24 888CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Decamp, M.Sugarman, J. 2004 Ethics in population-based genetic researchAccountability Research 11 1CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Doran, C. M.Hall, W. D.Shakeshaft, A. P.Vos, T.Cobiac, L. J. 2010 Alcohol policy reform in Australia: what can we learn from the evidence?Medical Journal of Australia 192 468Google Scholar PubMed

Doyle, C. 2004 DNA test can identify “the smoker’s gene”The Telegraph2004Google Scholar

EGAPP 2009 www.egappreviews.org/

Elder, R. W.Lawrence, B.Ferguson, A. 2010 The effectiveness of tax policy interventions for reducing excessive alcohol consumption and related harmsAmerican Journal of Preventative Medicine 38 217CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Evans, J. P.Meslin, E. M.Marteau, T. M.Caulfield, T. 2011 Genomics. Deflating the genomic bubbleScience 331 861CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Garrison, L. P.Carlson, R. J.Carlson, J. J. 2008 A review of public policy issues in promoting the development and commercialization of pharmacogenomic applications: challenges and implicationsDrug Metabolism Review 40 377CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Gartner, C. E.Barendregt, J. J.Hall, W. D. 2009 Multiple genetic tests for susceptibility to smoking do not outperform simple family historyAddiction 104 118CrossRef Google Scholar

Genetics & Public Policy Center 2010 www.dnapolicy.org/resources/AlphabetizedDTCGeneticTesting Companies11.10.pdf

GeneWatch UK 2004 www.genewatch.org/uploads/f03c6d66a9b354535738483c1c3d49e4/Nicotest_brief_final.pdf

Grucza, R. A.Wang, J. C.Stitzel, J. A. 2008 A risk allele for nicotine dependence in is a protective allele for cocaine dependenceBiological Psychiatry 64 922CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Gundle, K. R.Dingel, M. J.Koenig, B. A. 2010 To prove this is the industry’s best hope”: big tobacco’s support of research on the genetics of nicotine addictionAddiction 105 974CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Gurwitz, D.Manolopoulos, V. G. 2007 Triggle, D. J.Taylor, J. B.Comprehensive Medicinal ChemistryAmsterdamElsevierGoogle Scholar

Haga, S. B.Khoury, M. J.Burke, W. 2003 Genomic profiling to promote a healthy lifestyle: not ready for prime timeNature Genetics 34 347CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Hall, W. D. 2005 British drinking: a suitable case for treatment?British Medical Journal 331 527CrossRef Google Scholar

Hall, W. D.Madden, P.Lynskey, M. 2002 The genetics of tobacco use: methods, findings and policy implicationsTobacco Control 11 119CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Hall, W. D.Gartner, C. E.Carter, A. 2008 The genetics of nicotine addiction liability: ethical and social policy implicationsAddiction 103 350CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Hashibe, M.Mckay, J. D.Curado, M. P. 2008 Multiple ADH genes are associated with upper aerodigestive cancersNature Genetics 40 707CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Hendershot, C. S.Otto, J. M.Collins, S. E.Liang, T.Wall, T. L. 2010 Evaluation of a brief web-based genetic feedback intervention for reducing alcohol-related health risks associated with Annals of Behavioral Medicine 40 77CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Hoff, N.Evers-Casey, S.Weibel, S.Patkar, A.Leone, F. 2005

Hogarth, S. 2010 Myths, misconceptions and myopia: searching for clarity in the debate about the regulation of consumer geneticsPublic Health Genomics 13 322CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Hughes, J. R. 2009 Smokers’ beliefs about the inability to stop smokingAddictive Behavior 34 1005CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Hunter, D. J.Khoury, M. J.Drazen, J. M. 2008 Letting the genome out of the bottle – will we get our wish?New England Journal of Medicine 358 105CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Ito, H.Matsuo, K.Wakai, K. 2006 An intervention study of smoking cessation with feedback on genetic cancer susceptibility in JapanPreventive Medicine 42 102CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Janssens, A. C.Aulchenko, Y. S.Elephante, S. 2006 Predictive testing for complex diseases using multiple genes: fact or fiction?Genetic Medicine 8 395CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Johnson, B. A.Ait-Daoud, N.Seneviratne, C. 2011 Pharmacogenetic approach at the serotonin transporter gene as a method of reducing the severity of alcohol drinkingAmerican Journal of Psychiatry 168 265CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Johnstone, E. C.Yudkin, P.Griffiths, S. E. 2004 The dopamine D2 receptor C32806T polymorphism (DRD2 Taq1A RFLP) exhibits no association with smoking behaviour in a healthy UK populationAddiction Biology 9 221CrossRef Google Scholar

Khoury, M. J. 2003 Genetics and genomics in practice: the continuum from genetic disease to genetic information in health and diseaseGenetics in Medicine 5 261CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Khoury, M. J.Thrasher, J. F.Burk, W. 2000 Challenges in communicating genetics: a public health approachGenetics in Medicine 2 198CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Khoury, M. J.Yang, Q.Gwinn, M.Little, J.Flanders, W. D. 2004 An epidemiological assessment of genomic profiling for measuring susceptibility to common diseases and targeting interventionsGenetics in Medicine 6 38CrossRef Google Scholar

Kirchheiner, J.Fuhr, U.Brockmoller, J. 2005 Pharmacogenetics-based therapeutic recommendations – ready for clinical practice?Nature Review of Drug Discovery 4 639CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Kleiman, M. 1992 Against Excess: Towards a Drug Policy That WorksNew YorkBasic BooksGoogle Scholar

Komiya, Y.Nakao, H.Kuroda, Y. 2006 Application of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 () genetic diagnosis in support of decreasing alcohol intakeJournal of Occupational Health 48 161CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Kuehn, B. M. 2009 Findings on alcohol dependence point to promising avenues for targeted therapiesJournal of the American Medical Association 301 1643CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Laxminarayan, R.Mills, A. J.Breman, J. G. 2006 Advancement of global health: key messages from the Disease Control Priorities ProjectLancet 367 1193CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Lea, R.Chambers, G. 2007 Monoamine oxidase, addiction, and the “warrior” gene hypothesisNew Zealand Medical Journal 120 2441Google Scholar PubMed

Leader, A. E.Lerman, C.Cappella, J. N. 2010 Nicotine vaccines: will smokers take a shot at quitting?Nicotine Tobacco Research 12 390CrossRef Google Scholar

Lee, A. M.Tyndale, R. F. 2006 Drugs and genotypes: how pharmacogenetic information could improve smoking cessation treatmentJournal of Psychopharmacology 20 7CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Lerman, C.Glod, K.Audrain, J. 1997 Incorporating biomarkers of exposure and genetic susceptibility into smoking cessation treatment: effects on smoking related cognitions, emotions and behavior changeHealth Psychology 16 87CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Lerman, C.Shields, P. G.Wileyto, E. P. 2003 Effects of dopamine transporter and receptor polymorphisms on smoking cessation in a bupropion clinical trialHealth Psychology 22 541CrossRef Google Scholar

Lerman, C.Wileyto, E. P.Patterson, F. 2004 The functional mu opioid receptor () variant predicts short-term response to nicotine replacement therapy in a clinical trialPharmacogenomics 4 184CrossRef Google Scholar

Lerman, C.Jepson, C.Wileyto, E. P. 2006 Role of functional genetic variation in the dopamine D2 receptor () in response to bupropion and nicotine replacement therapy for tobacco dependence: results of two randomized clinical trialsNeuropsychopharmacology 31 231CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Lingford-Hughes, A. R.Welch, S.Nutt, D. J. 2004 Evidence-based guidelines for the pharmacological management of substance misuse, addiction and comorbidity: recommendations from the British Association for PsychopharmacologyJournal of Psychopharmacology 18 293CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Marteau, T. M.Croyle, R. T. 1998 The new genetics. Psychological responses to genetic testingBritish Medical Journal 316 693CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Marteau, T. M.Weinman, J. 2006 Self-regulation and the behavioural response to DNA risk information: a theoretical analysis and framework for future researchSocial Science & Medicine 62 1360CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Marteau, T. M.Munafò, M. R.Prevost, A. T. 2010

McBride, C. M.Bepler, G.Lipkus, I. M. 2002 Incorporating genetic susceptibility feedback into a smoking cessation program for African-American smokers with low incomeCancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention 11 521Google Scholar PubMed

McBride, C. M.Bowen, D.Brody, L. C. 2010 Future health applications of genomics: priorities for communication, behavioral, and social sciences researchAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine 38 556CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

McGuire, A. L.Burke, W. 2008 An unwelcome side effect of direct-to-consumer personal genome testing: raiding the medical commonsThe Journal of the American Medical Association 300 2669CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Merikangas, K. R.Risch, N. 2003 Genomic priorities and public healthScience 302 599CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Midanik, L. 2006 Biomedicalization of Alcohol Studies: Methodological Shifts and Institutional ChallengesNew Brunswick, NJTransaction Publishers

Middleton, J. C.Hahn, R. A.Kuzara, J. L. 2010 Effectiveness of policies maintaining or restricting days of alcohol sales on excessive alcohol consumption and related harmsAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine 39 575CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Miller, P.Carter, A.De Groot, F. 2012 Carter, A.Hall, W.Illes, J.Addiction Neuroethics: The Ethics of Addiction Research and TreatmentNew YorkElsevierGoogle Scholar

Molster, C.Charles, T.Samanek, A.O’Leary, P. 2009 Australian study on public knowledge of human genetics and healthPublic Health Genomics 12 84CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Munafò, M. R.Johnstone, E. C.Wileyto, E. P. 2006 Lack of association of genotype with smoking cessation in a nicotine replacement therapy randomized trialCancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention 15 398CrossRef Google Scholar

Munafò, M. R.Elliot, K. M.Murphy, M. F. G.Walton, R. T.Johnstone, E. C. 2007 Association of the mu-opioid receptor gene with smoking cessationPharmacogenomics Journal 7 353CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Ng, P. C.Murray, S. S.Levy, S.Ventner, J. C. 2009 An agenda for personalized medicineNature 461 724CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Nuffield Council on Bioethics 2003 Pharmacogenetics: Ethical IssuesLondonNuffield Council on BioethicsGoogle Scholar

Ooteman, W.Naassila, M.Koeter, M. W. J. 2009 Predicting the effect of naltrexone and acamprosate in alcohol-dependent patients using genetic indicatorsAddiction Biology 14 328CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Oslin, D. W.Berrettini, WKranzler, H. R. 2003 A functional polymorphism of the mu-opioid receptor gene is associated with naltrexone response in alcohol-dependent patientsNeuropsychopharmacology 28 1546CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Peto, J. 2001 Cancer epidemiology in the last century and the next decadeNature 411 390CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Ray, L. A.Hutchison, K. E. 2007 Effects of naltrexone on alcohol sensitivity and genetic moderators of medication response: a double-blind placebo-controlled studyArchives of General Psychiatry 64 1069CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Ray, L. A.Miranda, R.Mackillop, J. 2009 A preliminary pharmacogenetic investigation of adverse events from topiramate in heavy drinkersExperimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology 17 122CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Read, J.Harre, N. 2001 The role of biological and genetic causal beliefs in the stigmatisation of mental patientsJournal of Mental Health 10 223Google Scholar

Sanderson, S. C.Humphries, S. E.Hubbart, C. 2008 Psychological and behavioural impact of genetic testing smokers for lung cancer risk: a phase II exploratory trialJournal of Health Psychology 13 481CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Senior, V.Marteau, T. M.Weinman, J. 2000 Impact of genetic testing on causal models of heart disease and arthritis: an analogue studyPsychology & Health 14 1077CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Shah, R. R. 2006 Can pharmacogenetics help rescue drugs withdrawn from the market?Pharmacogenomics 7 889CrossRef Google Scholar

Shields, A. E.Lerman, C. 2008 Anticipating clinical integration of pharmacogenetic treatment strategies for addiction: are primary care physicians ready?Clinical Pharmacological Therapies 83 635CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Shields, A. E.Levy, D. E.Blumenthal, D. 2008 Primary care physicians’ willingness to offer a new genetic test to tailor smoking treatment, according to test characteristicsNicotine Tobacco Research 10 1037CrossRef Google Scholar

Spooner, C.Hall, W.Lynskey, M. 2001 The Structural Determinants of Youth Drug UseCanberraAustralian National Council on DrugsGoogle Scholar

Taylor, S.Treloar, S.Barlow-Stewart, K.Stranger, M.Otlowski, M. 2008 Investigating genetic discrimination in Australia: a large-scale survey of clinical genetics clientsClinical Genetics 74 20CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

The Foundation for Alcohol Research 2008 www.abmrf.org

US Department of Health and Human Services 2000

Udesky, L. 2010 The ethics of direct-to-consumer genetic testingLancet 376 1377CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

United States Government Accountability Office 2010 www.gao.gov/highlights/d10847thigh.pdf

Vrecko, S. 2010 Birth of a brain disease: science, the state and addiction neuropoliticsHistory of the Human Sciences 23 52CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Wang, J. C.Grucza, R.Cruchaga, C. 2009 Genetic variation in the gene affects mRNA levels and is associated with risk for alcohol dependenceMolecular Psychiatry 14 501CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Weiss, R. D.Kueppenbender, K. D. 2006 Combining psychosocial treatment with pharmacotherapy for alcohol dependenceJournal of Clinical Psychopharmacology 26 S37CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Wensley, D.King, M. 2008 Scientific responsibility for the dissemination and interpretation of genetic research: lessons from the “warrior gene” controversyJournal of Medical Ethics 34 507CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Willett, W. C. 2002 Balancing life-style and genomics research for disease preventionScience 296 695CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Wray, N. R.Goddard, M. E.Visscher, P. M. 2007 Prediction of individual genetic risk to disease from genome-wide association studiesGenome Research 17 1520CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Wray, N. R.Yang, J.Goddard, M. E.Visscher, P. M. 2010 The genetic interpretation of area under the ROC curve in genomic profilingPLoS Genet 6 1000864CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Wright, A. J.Weinman, J.Marteau, T. M. 2003 The impact of learning of a genetic predisposition to nicotine dependence: an analogue studyTobacco Control 12 227CrossRef Google Scholar

Wright, C. F.Gregory-Jones, S. 2010 Size of the direct-to-consumer genomic testing marketGenetic Medicine 12 594CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed