Genes and the Motivation to Use Substances

Abstract

(from the chapter) In this chapter, we review the extant evidence for biological influences on cannabis involvement. Is cannabis involvement heritable, and if so, what factors contribute to this heritable variation? How does this heritability relate to genetic influences on other drugs of abuse as well as co-occurring life outcomes and psychopathology? Can these myriad, well-demonstrated comorbidities be traced back to common genetic underpinnings or are causal agents at play as well? Finally, we outline future directions for genetically informed studies of cannabis involvement. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)