While many downplay the risks associated with cannabis use, researchers at University College London (https://www.ucl.ac.uk/psychopharmacology/)(UCL), alongside researchers from King's College London, University of Bath, University of Exeter, the MRC, and the National Institute for Health Research UCLH Biomedical Research Centre, recently found a link between three genetic markers and cannabis addiction.
Lead researcher from UCL's Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, Dr. Chandni Hindocha, along with a team of scientists, investigated three genetic markers that are involved in the human body's endocannabinoid system (https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/endocannabinoid-system). This system plays a role in many bodily functions, including regulating endocrine function and the hormones related to reproduction and response to stress.
Credit: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/dna-string-biology-3d-1811955/
While the three markers studied had previously been connected with cannabis addiction, no prior studies have investigated all three markers at once.
Study Procedure:
In UCL's study, 48 cannabis users used a vaporizer to take the drug. Then, the research team conducted various tests to determine whether there was a predisposition to addiction. Participants were tested for drug cue salience (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5171207/) by presenting them with neutral images along with cannabis-related images. They also underwent satiety testing to determine if they still wanted more cannabis after consuming the test dose. Finally, the participants also completed a test to measure cravings.
Each of these three tests focused on the cognitive aspect of addiction rather than using typical symptoms-based tests for drug dependency. The research team's goal in using these cognitive measures was to investigate how the genetic markers, if present, impact the brain mechanisms involved in drug abuse and dependency.
Following the three cannabis-related tests, each of the participants also underwent genetic testing to look for the three genetic markers.
Study Results:
UCL's study found a connection between the three genetic variants and drug cue salience and state satiety. Those with the Cannabinoid receptor 1 gene appeared to want more cannabis even after consuming the test dose, showing reduced satiety. In addition, those with this gene also were particularly drawn to cannabis-related images in the drug cue salience test.
These findings suggest that the genetic markers, and especially Cannabinoid receptor 1, might predispose (https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/genetics-epigenetics-addiction) people to cannabis addiction. This likely occurs when the psychoactive component in cannabis, THC, binds to the Cannabinoid receptor.
Future Research Directions:
While these findings are promising, the researchers say that more work needs to be done to determine the exact mechanisms responsible for the impact seen in the study and to identify any other factors that might impact one's vulnerability to cannabis addiction.
Future research might also help doctors better understand which patients might be harmed by medicinal cannabis so that those who have a predisposition to cannabis addiction are not prescribed it for medicinal uses. Dr. Hindocha suggested that results from this study and future related studies can be used to develop a test that can be used to determine vulnerability prior to prescribing medicinal cannabis.
An exciting new possibility is that the findings from this and future studies can also be used to design individualized treatment protocols for those with cannabis addiction, helping to create effective and precise addictions treatment.
While medical marijuana is a hot topic in the news, it is important to remember that cannabis is still an addictive substance, with around 30% of those who consume it showing signs of substance abuse. Determining why some individuals are more vulnerable to addiction is a huge step forward in preventing marijuana abuse and developing effective treatments for the condition.
Written by Charles Watson (https://twitter.com/charleswatson00), with work published for Sunshine Behavioral Health (https://www.facebook.com/SunshineBehavi1/). If you find this article interesting, please do share it.