Cannabinoid Consumption: Genetic and Psychological Factors in Drugs Abuse

The evolution of the consumption, the age, the initiation substance, the routes of administration used, the substances consumed in the meantime, the circumstances of relapse, the previous attempts of abandonment and the health problems related to the drugs abuse are of particular relevance in the psychosocial understanding of the phenomenon and the psychopathological impact present. From a biological perspective, some studies suggest that hereditary influences may be at the basis of predisposition for substance use, however, they may be attenuated in the presence of adequate parental monitoring/supervision adding relevance to the impact of psychosocial development. Several genes have been identified and associated with cannabis use and its dependence, including CNR1, CNR2, FAAH and C1orf110. Genetic alterations found in the described genes appear to confer vulnerability to cannabinoid dependence through interaction with different mechanisms, such as increased withdrawal symptoms and increased positive responsiveness.