Individual Vulnerabilities

Why can one person consume a drug of abuse recreationally, yet another becomes addicted? What causes individual vulnerability to substance use disorder (SUD)? Genetic variation in the expression of various proteins is one possible explanation, but what causes these differences?

As scientists interested in nutrition, we believe deficiencies in certain nutrients might play a role in making one more vulnerable than another.

Iron: We have explored iron deficiency (the leading single nutrient deficiency worldwide) and have found that iron deficiency during critical periods of development causes later learning and memory deficits that impact this vulnerability to cocaine addiction in rats.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids: We found that deficiency in omega-3 fatty acids, such as what is in fish oil, can lead to increased vulnerability to addiction to heroin in rats.