Alcohol and drugs rehab could be avoided if addiction treated early, says study

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Home » News » Alcohol » Alcohol and drugs rehab could be avoided if addiction treated early, says study

by Change | 18 May 2009

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Those with a genetic risk factor of addiction could avoid addiction if helped early on, according to a study.

The need for alcohol and drugs rehab in later life can be avoided by those with a genetic risk factor if prevention programs are used, according to a new study.

Researchers in the United States monitored the progress of 11-year-olds for two and a half years on a prevention programme.

The study involved young teenagers with a genetic risk factor contributing to substance abuse behaviour and a comparison group.

Results showed that teenagers with the gene who were on the programme were no more likely than those without the gene to engage in risky behaviour. In comparison, adolescents with the gene who did not take the programme were twice as likely as those who did to engage in risky behaviour such as drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana.

The study appears in the May/June issue of Child Development and is supported by the National Institute of alcohol abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse, both based in the US.

NIAAA acting director Kenneth R Warren said: "The findings underscore that nurture can influence nature during adolescence, a pivotal time when delaying the start of alcohol consumption and other risky behaviors can have a significant impact on healthy child development."

Preventing rather than treating alcohol addiction could save the UK money. According to government statistics, alcohol misuse costs Scotland £2.25 billion a year in extra services and lost productivity.

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