Grant: Operating Grant - PA: Prevention and Treatment of Illicit Drug Use

The use of tobacco is the largest single factor impacting upon chronic disease and premature death in Canada. Over the past decade research indicates that there are genetic factors passed from generation to generation that influence the development of alcoholism, smoking and drug abuse. The genetic risk is due to a number of genes working together, along with predisposing environmental factors such as stress, early life losses, or other mental disorder. Understanding the genes that influence the development of addiction is one of the major challenges facing mental health research at the present time. One method of finding the genes that may be involved in increasing risk for drug abuse is the study of animal models. In preliminary research, the applicant identified highly significant chromosomal regions containing genes regulating the stimulant effects of alcohol, cocaine and nicotine in mice. The objectives of the proposed research are to map and isolate genes that are involved in the regulation of the initial sensitivity to cocaine, nicotine and alcohol as well as oral consumption. The premise of the proposed research is that the identification of genetic factors related to drug and alcohol sensitivity and consumption will eventually lead to the design of new treatments and to the targeting of treatments for those individuals most likely to benefit.