Family history influence on drug abuse severity and treatment outcome

Influence of parental alcohol/substance abuse on methadone maintenance ther apy (MMT) outcome was examined in 164 DSM-III-R opioid dependent adults wit h no other current DSM Axis I disorder. Family history positive patients ha d more DSM-III-R opioid dependence symptoms and were more likely to be clas sified as severely dependent. However, when placed on identical daily doses of methadone (50 mg), they had lower rates of illicit opioid use but highe r rates of cocaine use than family history negative patients. Both effects remained significant after adjusting for gender and race. These results sug gest that common genetic factors may underlie both susceptibility to heroin dependence and response to therapeutic methadone treatment. (C) 2001 Elsev ier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.