cannabisnews.com: Illicit Drug Use and Abuse May be Genetic










  Illicit Drug Use and Abuse May be Genetic

Posted by CN Staff on July 05, 2006 at 13:10:37 PT
Press Release 
Source: Newswise 

Newswise -- Researchers have found that genetic factors may play an important role in a person’s use, misuse or dependence of illicit drugs like marijuana, stimulants, opiates, cocaine and psychedelics. In the July issue of the journal Psychological Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University researchers, in collaboration with researchers from Norwegian Institute of Public Health and University of Oslo in Norway, reported the results of a population-based study of twin pairs that showed that genetic factors influence the illicit drug use in Norway, a country with significantly low levels of psychoactive substance use disorder.
“Prior twin studies of illicit drug use and abuse have all been conducted in Anglophonic countries, specifically the United States and Australia, with high levels of such use. This is the first study of a non-English speaking country with much lower rates of drug use - yet results are similar - drug use and abuse or dependence is quite heritable,” said lead author Kenneth S. Kendler, M.D., a professor of psychiatry and human genetics in VCU’s School of Medicine.The team examined the role of genetic and environmental factors in the progression of psychoactive substance use and abuse.Approximately 1,400 young adult twin pairs from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health Twin Panel were interviewed and assessed for their lifetime use of illicit drugs, including marijuana, stimulants, opiates, cocaine and psychedelics. Researchers defined the significant lifetime use of illicit substances as use 10 or more times.Previous theories have suggested that genetic factors might be of less importance in influencing drug use in societies where drugs were not widely available. According to Kendler, the results of this study are inconsistent with this theory.“In addition to prior findings, the results of this investigation indicate that genetic factors are likely to be important risk factors for psychoactive drug use and misuse in many parts of the world,” he said.This work was supported in part by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Norwegian Research Council, the Norwegian Foundation for Health and Rehabilitation, The Norwegian Council for Mental Health and the European Commission.Kendler collaborated with Steven H. Aggen, Ph.D., in the department of psychiatry at VCU; and Kristian Tambs, Ph.D., and Ted Reichborn-Kjennerud, M.D., who are affiliated with the Division of Mental Health and Institute of Psychiatry, Norwegian Institute of Public Health; and University of Oslo Norway.About VCU and the VCU Medical Center: Located on two downtown campuses in Richmond, Va., Virginia Commonwealth University is ranked nationally by the Carnegie Foundation as a top research institution and enrolls more than 29,000 students in more than 181 certificate, undergraduate, graduate, professional and doctoral programs in the arts, sciences and humanities in 15 schools and one college. Forty of the university’s programs are unique in Virginia, and 20 graduate and professional programs have been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as among the best of their kind. MCV Hospitals, clinics and the health sciences schools of Virginia Commonwealth University compose the VCU Medical Center, one of the leading academic medical centers in the country. For more, see: http://www.vcu.eduSource: Newswise (VA)Published: July 5, 2006Copyright: 2006 NewswiseContact: editor newswise.comWebsite: http://www.newswise.com/CannabisNews Justice Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/justice.shtml

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Comment #24 posted by mayan on July 07, 2006 at 03:24:40 PT
Hecklers?
At the show? Let them buy tickets.
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Comment #23 posted by FoM on July 06, 2006 at 09:37:03 PT
Truth
Are you going to see CSNY's Freedom of Speech Tour? We are going to see it two times. It starts tonight in New Jersey. I can't wait until the reviews are posted on the Rust List. I do expect hecklers from the Republican Party and I'm sure Neil does too.http://www.csny.com/
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Comment #22 posted by FoM on July 06, 2006 at 09:32:49 PT
Truth 
Thank you. We'll go ahead and order it too. I like to buy $25 at a time from Amazon because you don't pay any tax and you can have it shipped free. It's takes a few days longer but that's ok. We have been slowly working on our house over the last few years. We are almost finished with our new living room. The carpet and furniture should be here in the next week or two. The first night we have our new reclining sofa we want to watch Pulse. We haven't had a comfortable sofa for so many years it will be great to kick back and watch Pulse. 
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Comment #21 posted by Truth on July 06, 2006 at 09:21:41 PT
Pulse
If you like Pink Floyd's "Pulse" I'd suggest that you check out David Gilmour's new album "On An Island". We saw him perform it live at the Paramount theater in Oakland a few months ago. The CD now sits on the our turntable with "Living With War". We listen to them back to back, over and over.
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Comment #20 posted by whig on July 06, 2006 at 02:36:47 PT
Cannabists - Wiki Project
http://campaigns.wikia.com/wiki/Mission_Statement
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Comment #19 posted by whig on July 06, 2006 at 01:00:56 PT
FoM
You have mail.
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Comment #18 posted by whig on July 06, 2006 at 00:54:04 PT
afterburner
Bob Dylan was also the one who turned on the Beatles.
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Comment #17 posted by afterburner on July 05, 2006 at 22:53:10 PT
Rainy Day Women (whig #12) & Tylenol (FoM #16) 
Rainy Day Women #12 & 35. 12 X 35 = 420!I've been enjoying watching the Tour de France each morning since it started on Canada Day, July 1st, 2006. I find it relaxing and inspiring, like some people find golf or fishing. One thing bothers me though. Before Day 1, the Prologue, 9 riders were barred from the Tour because Spanish police accused them of "blood doping." Phil Liggett, a Tour announcer, said "Good riddance. I hope they never come back." Cannabis is also on the list of banned substances as a performance-enhancing "drug." I can see banning steroids and such, but why cannabis? They refer to the use of any of the banned substances as "doping." It is traditional to drink champagne the last day of the Tour riding down the Champs-Elysées. What kind of message does *that* send to the children who idolize their sports heroes?Mind you, these banned riders have not yet been convicted of "blood doping." I find this bicycling drug war distracting and quite hypocritical since three of the sponsors of the Tour are Tylenol, Budweiser, and Coors!Massive doping scandal decapitates Tour de France
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/sports/060630/s063092.html
Tour de France has learned drug testing's not the answer
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Comment #16 posted by FoM on July 05, 2006 at 20:15:37 PT
Tylenol Health Warning
Tylenol Found To Cause Liver Damage Even in Small Doses***Originally Published July 5, 2006 (NewsTarget) -- Healthy adults who took the maximum dose of Tylenol for two weeks were found to have liver damage, according to a study appearing in the latest issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers instructed 106 study participants to take 4 grams of Tylenol (eight extra-strength tablets) a day for two weeks, with some taking only Tylenol, and some taking Tylenol combined with an opioid painkiller. The rest of the participants were given a placebo. Nearly 40 percent of the participants taking Tylenol or the Tylenol/opioid combination displayed abnormal liver test results that indicated liver damage, while those taking the placebo showed no damage. The study's co-author, Dr. Neil Kaplowitz of the University of Southern California said, "I would urge the public not to exceed 4 grams a day. This is a drug that has a rather narrow safety window." Kaplowitz added that heavy drinkers should not exceed 2 grams a day. Tylenol maker McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals said it had conducted its own research that tracked high-dose Tylenol users over longer periods than the Kaplowitz study, and found that its product did not lead to liver disease. Kaplowitz and co-author Dr. Paul Watkins of the University of North Carolina were hired by Purdue Pharma, which makes the prescription painkiller OxyContin, to see why people testing a drug containing acetaminophen and the opiate hydrocodone were having abnormal liver tests. Contrary to the researchers' theories, they found that acetaminophen was the culprit. Acetaminophen is Americans' over-the-counter painkiller of choice. Acetaminophen overdose is also the leading cause of acute liver failure. Copyright: 2006 NewsTarget Network http://www.newstarget.com/019555.html
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Comment #15 posted by FoM on July 05, 2006 at 18:45:13 PT
Whig
Thank you. That would very nice of you. I guess that good music really is important to me. I find it lifts my spirits and takes me temporarily away from the crazy world we live in. Watching Bob Dylan and all his friends play together and smile and have a good time makes me smile. How can the powers that be see these talented happy musicians performing together and think that drugs always will wreck a person? It's just not true. I want to stay young at heart no matter how old I get. 
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Comment #14 posted by whig on July 05, 2006 at 18:25:04 PT
FoM
Can I send you some Bob Dylan?
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Comment #13 posted by FoM on July 05, 2006 at 18:18:39 PT
whig
Thank you. I only have one Dylan CD but I love hearing his songs when I hear them. Genthirdday posted this video and it was very good. It's Bob Dylan's 30th Anniversary Concert. I am ordering Pink Floyd's Pulse DVD and the CD of this concert. I couldn't find a DVD of this event. I am only a restless consumer when it comes to music DVDs. We watched Simon and Garfunkels Concert in Central Park the other day. A good music DVD is so much better then the news. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxs3WsNiGO8&eurl=Pink Floyd: Pulse at Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/lgbwp
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Comment #12 posted by whig on July 05, 2006 at 17:56:41 PT
Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
Otherwise known as, "Everybody Must Get Stoned."
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on July 05, 2006 at 17:27:49 PT
Mayan
I don't know what Rainy Day Woman means but you could be right. What would be so darn bad if people who are restless consumers just didn't buy as much anymore? Must people always be buying something? I don't feel I am lacking any necessities in my life. Should we be proud because we have so much stuff here in the USA? I just got a phone call trying to sell me reduced rates at a Quality Inn. I said we aren't going on vacation. She said well next year maybe? I said no I couldn't afford the gas to go on vacation. She said everyone needs to get away. I said I live in the country. That's my vacation. She didn't know what to say.
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Comment #10 posted by mayan on July 05, 2006 at 17:06:03 PT
FoM
Isn't cannabis the "Rainy Day Woman" that Dylan wrote about? Cannabis helps people realize that there is so much more than money and materialism. That's one reason why the government doesn't like it. The way things are going we will only be free to consume and that's it.The "restless consumer" needs to spark up! 
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on July 05, 2006 at 16:52:54 PT
whig
There was an old expression from back in my day. Dope will get you thru times with no moneybetter then money will get you thru times with no dopeA person can shop and get really deep in debt and turn around and go shopping again and only make it worse.Cannabis I think could help a person not to have the need to go shopping and spend lots of money. It really is an economical substance when you think about it.
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Comment #8 posted by mayan on July 05, 2006 at 16:48:41 PT
Use & Abuse
The title says:"Illicit Drug Use and Abuse May be Genetic"From the article:"Researchers have found that genetic factors may play an important role in a person’s use, misuse or dependence of illicit drugs like marijuana, stimulants, opiates, cocaine and psychedelics." So illicit drug USE is not necessarily MISUSE or ABUSE? You mean Johnny Pee's been lying to us? I'm crushed!THE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN...Editorial: Sifting and winnowing: 
http://www.madison.com/tct/opinion/index.php?ntid=89975&ntpid=0Change in Venue or Date will not Alter Decision:
http://www.teamliberty.net/id273.htmlThe Flying Elephant: Evidence for Involvement of a Third Jet in the WTC Attacks:
http://worldtradecentertruth.com/JetDixon4.pdfJames Fetzer/ 911 Panel Discussion Los Angeles (video):
http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/july2006/010706jamesfetzer.htm9/11 Candidate Craig Hill For U.S. Senate: 
http://www.hillsenatenow.org/9/11 Candidate Matthew Woodson For U.S. Senate:
http://www.sendmeabuck.com/9/11 Candidate Carol Brouillet For California Congress:
http://www.carolforcongress.org/9/11 Candidate Robert Bowman For U.S. Congress:
http://bowman2006.com/
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Comment #7 posted by whig on July 05, 2006 at 16:44:06 PT
FoM
The truth is -- Everyone gets high.Some people use cannabis. Some people drink. Some people take heroin. Some people jump out of planes. Some people go shopping. Some people have gratuitous sex. On the scale of safety, cannabis is as safe as shopping.
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on July 05, 2006 at 16:04:55 PT
whig
I agree. Even compulsive shopping produces a high.
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Comment #5 posted by whig on July 05, 2006 at 15:52:44 PT

FoM
"I called drug use a moral issue. I don't know what to call it. I believe that as long as a person doesn't hurt anyone but maybe himself it shouldn't be a crime. People can jump out of airplanes or climb mountains and they are dangerous but it's ok to do."Actually, jumping out of airplanes is a trip for the person who does that, he or she gets a rush of adrenaline and other endogenous subtances that cause him or her to become very high, and addicted to that kind of thing.
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on July 05, 2006 at 15:19:31 PT

Movie on Lifetime TV: The 60s
I saw this miniseries years ago and it was very good. The second two hours will be on tonight on DirecTV. It will be on channel 261 on DirecTV at 12PM. I thought I'd mention it.***The '60S Director: Mark PiznarskiYear film was made: 1999 Genre: Drama Stars: Julia Stiles, Jerry O'Connell, Charles S. Dutton, Jordana Brewster and Josh Hamilton Hippies, the Vietnam War, the Black Panthers, the Kennedys and more. It's going to be a dramatic flashback that you won't want to miss. The plot focuses on a white family and an African-American family during the turbulent '60s. This powerful story, inspired by actual events, features Charles S. Dutton, Jerry O'Connell, Julia Stiles and many other stars. http://www.lifetimetv.com/movies/info/move0568.html
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on July 05, 2006 at 14:00:32 PT

One More Thing
I called drug use a moral issue. I don't know what to call it. I believe that as long as a person doesn't hurt anyone but maybe himself it shouldn't be a crime. People can jump out of airplanes or climb mountains and they are dangerous but it's ok to do.
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Comment #2 posted by Hope on July 05, 2006 at 13:48:18 PT

They are just running around and around
in idiotic circles...pointing to this...pointing to that and never saying or doing anything that amounts to a hill of beans. They are trying to slow the invevitable is all they are doing.Legalize it, already!
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on July 05, 2006 at 13:20:51 PT

A Question
I believe that drug abuse can be genetic. I have seen family members get addicted to alcohol even when neither parent drank alcohol. The grandmother and her brothers and sisters had a history of alcoholism. If it isn't a moral issue and people are locked up in jail for something that might be genetic how does that help? That's like being jailed for a genetic flaw.
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