Alcoholism can be linked to many factors such as genetic, cultural, trauma, and hereditary factors to name a few. However, a recent study suggests that the opioid receptors in the brain has been linked to a heightened effect to early expose of alcohol. This heightened effect is believed to play a role in increased consumption leading to abuse and dependence.
The study conducted on rhesus monkeys, by researchers at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). “Although the pathway to alcoholism is influenced by many factors, our findings affirm that individuals who possess this receptor variant may experience enhanced pleasurable effects from alcohol that could increase their risk for developing alcohol abuse and dependence,” notes Markus Heilig, M.D., Ph.D., NIAAA Clinical Director and the study’s senior author.
