ABSTRACT
Cannabis stimulates dopamine release and activates dopaminergic reward neurons in central pathways that lead to enhanced dependence. Catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) inactivates amplified extraneuronally released dopamine. A functional polymorphism (COMT Val158Met) resulting in increased enzyme activity has been associated with polysubstance abuse and addiction to heroin and methamphetamine. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the COMT Val158Met polymorphism and use of cannabis. Fifty-five cannabis users and 75 normal controls were enrolled in this study. Polymerase chain reaction-based genotyping was used to evaluate the presence of COMT gene polymorphism. There was a difference in genotype frequencies between cannabis users and controls, including the distribution of the COMT genotypes (H/H, H/L) (P < 0.001) and alleles (H, L) (P < 0.01), when comparing the patient groups and the control individuals. However, LL genotype distribution was similar between the groups. These results suggest a significant association between COMT Val158Met polymorphism and susceptibility to cannabis dependence.
Subject(s)
Catechol O-Methyltransferase/genetics , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Marijuana Abuse/genetics , Adolescent , Adult , Case-Control Studies , Female , Genotype , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Polymorphism, GeneticABSTRACT
Family is one of the most important factors in the social and psychological progress of an adolescent. Social behavior disorders in childhood have been reported to be caused by many factors that may lead children to commit a crime. Our study included a total of 106 convicted adolescents from Eastern Turkey in a reformatory and 126 unconvicted adolescents with a similar socio-economic status. A survey form was completed during a face-to-face interview and a review of official records was undertaken. The role of family disruption, education levels of parents, the rate of imprisonment among first- and second-degree relatives, migration as a family from their place of birth, and the number of delinquent children in the family were evaluated. There was a significant difference between the conditions in the families of convicted and unconvicted adolescents. Family factors play an important role in the development of adolescent delinquency. To prevent or decrease this rate of childhood or adolescent delinquency, there needs to be an improvement in the socio-cultural conditions of families.
