Evidence for a Genetic Component for Substance Dependence in Native Americans

Question

The claim that there is evidence for a genetic component for substance dependence in Native Americans is supported by scientific research. A study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that substance dependence has a substantial genetic component in Native Americans, similar in magnitude to that reported for other populations. The study examined various genes associated with substance dependence phenotypes, including OPRM1, CRN1, COMT, GABRA2, MAOA, and HTR3-B. Notably, while studies of genes coding for alcohol-metabolizing enzymes have not revealed risk variants specific to Native American populations, most Native Americans lack protective variants seen in other populations.  Further research indicates that the heritability of substance dependence in Native Americans is approximately 50%, aligning with findings in other populations.  However, it's important to recognize that genetics is just one factor; environmental and cultural influences also play significant roles in substance dependence.​

Answer 1

I've found the claim that Native Americans are predisposed to alcoholism because of their genes is false. The website cited in the claim is credible because it is a peer-reviewed journal article from the National Library of Medicine. Evidence for a Genetic Component for Substance Dependence in Native Americans - PMC

However, the article does not support the claim that genetics make Native Americans more likely to develop addictions to alcohol for several reasons. One, in the second paragraph of "Discussions and Conclusions," the study did identify that some Native American tribes lack protective variants in genes related to alcohol metabolizing, but only in comparison to gene sequences in certain East Asian and some African populations; additionally, this article then reads, "but [these missing variants] provide little overall support for the theory that Native American groups have an "unusual" metabolism of alcohol." In the third paragraph under the "Discussions and Conclusions" heading, the article says that findings in a previous study (which regards genetics as a factor of Native American alcoholism) are impossible to evaluate because it is unclear if the supposed correlation between Native Americans and substance abuse phenotypes is a cause or a result of alcoholism--the alcoholism may have developed due to environmental factors.  

This journal article, another peer-reviewed and published one from the trusted National Library of Medicine, claims that findings of correlation between Native American genes and substance abuse phenotypes are questionable due to underfunded research and sample sizes too small to be generalizable for larger populations. After all, the claim that all Native Americans are predisposed to alcoholism due to genetic factors is a lofty one that forces many ethnicities into one blanket group. Genetic and Environmental Risk Factors for Alcohol Use Disorders in American Indians and Alaskan Natives - PMC

Finally, this article from The Verge, a media source ranked by Media Bias/Fact Check.com as "high" with regards to factual reporting, essentially breaks down the original claim as a myth. While many Native American communities do suffer from addiction to substances besides alcohol because of the many stressors with which they unfortunately live, such as low average income, low education levels and high unemployment, these are all external factors that do not relate to genetics. No, Native Americans aren’t genetically more susceptible to alcoholism | The Verge

Ultimately, some Native American populations may be at a heightened risk for alcoholism, but because of external factors. If a correlation between their genetics and predisposition for alcoholism does exist, it has not been found with conclusive evidence yet, and therefore this claim is false. I must reiterate, finally, that the article upon which the original claim is based (a peer-reviewed, published journal article in the National Library of Medicine) is true, trusted and factual, but the claim itself garners the wrong conclusion from the content. 

Answer 2

The claim that there is evidence for a genetic component for substance dependence in Native Americans is true. A study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that substance dependence has a very prevalent genetic component in Native Americans. The study looked at the various different genes associated with substance dependence phenotypes, such as OPRM1, CRN1, COMT, GABRA2, MAOA, and HTR3-B. While studies of genes coding for alcohol-metabolizing enzymes have not revealed risk variants specific to Native American populations, most Indigenous People lack the protective variants they need that are seen in other populations. Further research also shows that the heritability of substance dependence in Native Americans is approximately 50%. It's also worth noting, however, that genetics is just one factor; environmental and cultural influences also play significant roles in the substance dependence and abuse. 

Comments

The answer to this claim was well informed. I was able to understand what source you used and what you got from this source. While looking at the source, I was able to find what you were saying and connect it to the claim. You were able to answer this claim with a reliable source and didn't need to put an opinion or anything to persuade someone. This answer was well written and even gave a study for others to help understand.

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This is a great response, it is important that you listed all the different substances that were looked at in the study. You also went in to good detail about the outcomes of the study and what it means in terms to the claim. It also was a good definitive answer on the claim being true.

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It looks like you copied nearly word for word what was already included in the original post - in order for this to be a credible fact-check, providing your own analysis instead of restating the data needing to be fact-checked is crucial. Where did the American Journal of Psychiatry get their evidence? Was the research experiment or source reliable, or was there some kind of inherent bias? Digging deeper here and providing your own evidence will help you support your argument.

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I liked this source because it seemed not only credible but also explained the types of research used (heritability, linkage analyses, and candidate genes). The article also listed several articles with similar supporting claims and a substantial bibliography to make it all seem credible and unbiased.

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As far as I can tell you are answering your own claim by repeating the same information your included in the original post. This comes off as less than honest and not in the spirit of preventing misinformation. Additionally, as far I can tell the evidence you include directly contradicts your claim. By saying that studies have not found risk variants specific to Native Americans directly contradicts the claim that they have a genetic predisposition. Then pointing at other influences such has environmental factors further weakens your argument as you are now suggesting factors other than genetics contribute to substance use by Native Americans. I would refrain from answering your own claims and in the future think through your evidence more carefully.

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This answer is really well done. I saw a similar post to this one but it was phrased differently stating that Native Americans are more likely to be substance dependent. Although that statement could be true this one connects the actual statement made from the source. It talks directly about a genetic trait and how that is present and connected to substance abuse in general. Overall great factcheck!

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I would agree with this claim because it presents a well-rounded, research-based view of the role genetics plays in substance dependence among Native American populations. The article cites specific genes, like OPRM1 and GABRA2, that have been linked to substance dependence, which adds credibility and specificity to the claim. It also acknowledges that while risk variants tied to alcohol metabolism aren't unique to Native Americans, the absence of certain protective variants may still increase vulnerability. Most importantly, the claim doesn’t ignore the complexity of the issue, it clearly states that genetics is only part of the picture, with environmental and cultural factors also playing major roles. This kind of balanced explanation helps avoid stereotypes while still recognizing important genetic research.

Answer 3

This claim is misleading. The article was published in 2013, almost 12 years ago, a recent study has shown that this is misleading. Yes there is a large percentage of native populations that deal with alcohol abuse and that if you have an alcoholic direct family member you are more susceptible to these substances. But a recent study (as of 2021) from the Wiley online library and referenced by the Boise State Public Radio showed that it's a notion that lacks scientific evidence despite research done over years. If anything the author argues that if you believe the myth of being biologically vulnerable you are more likely to excuse that for excessive drinking compared to someone that doesn't believe that.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/acer.14703

https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/health/2021-11-30/false-narratives-create-more-challenges-for-american-indians-struggling-with-substance-abuse

Comments

I appreciate your use of more recent studies for this response, and the fact that they differentiate between a genetic predisposition towards alcohol abuse and a socioeconomic one. The claim made by the authors of the Wiley Online Library paper is salient, that a belief in a biological/genetic vulnerability to alcohol dependency may itself contribute to alcoholism.

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I think a great point you highlighted here was the lack of scientific evidence even with research on the topic. This article, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-023-02379-3, did a study which would support the claim that the Native American population may be more prone to alcohol abuse. However, they pointed out that their evidence may not be able to be applied to the population as a whole, and a lot of different factors make this research as not definitive in making this claim "true".

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This response to the claim, unlike other responses, calls this response misleading and exaggerated. While this response provides reliable sources to back their claim, it is important to account for the original claim. I think this response could've included reasons or evidence to further disprove or strengthen their own claim. However, they have reliable sources that support the "misleading" claim and does a good job analyzing the article provided.

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I like your response as it mentions that the articles originally  mentioned are outdated. Nice job on providing a more recent study to back your claims.

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This fact check clears up a lot of the grey areas in many of the answers to this claim. This claim has had validity throughout history, but in modern times this answer seems to fit recent trends. The main claim is outdated and based on facts from over a decade ago. The links you are using are reputable and respectful within in this context. These narratives are very outdated and the reality of the situation is this substance abuse stipulation is an  outdated racists theory that does not tell the entire story. Overall good fat-check to separate from the people agreeing with this claim.

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I appreciate the part of your response where you focused on the date the research was conducted as that if a very important fact when it comes o research. And also how it is considered a “myth” that alcoholism is a biological disorder that is passed down, which is something I disagree with. I also enjoyed the other sources you provided to backup your claims.

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Your response is really solid. I like how you brought up when the article was published, and then provided a recent study arguing against the original.

Answer 4

This is a really solid breakdown of the genetic side of substance dependence, but I think it would be helpful if you added a little more about how big of a role environment plays alongside genetics. You mentioned cultural and environmental factors at the end, but I’d love to see examples like historical trauma, socioeconomic status, or access to healthcare, since these are often key issues in Native American communities. Also, I’m curious if the study you cited looked at different tribes or if it treated Native Americans as one group—sometimes that can hide important differences between communities. Could be worth checking if the research addressed that.

Comments

Historical trauma in Native American communities--like forced relocation and boarding schools--alongside current challenges like limited healthcare access and poverty are just as important as genetic factors in understanding substance dependence. You make a good point about tribal differences--treating all Native American communities as one group can miss important variations in both risk factors and protective cultural practices between tribes.

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I like how you encouraged them to expand on a topic they brought up. I think this could definitely solidify their claim a bit more by going into more detail about these environmental and cultural factors, especially because Native American populations vary so much based on geography and tribe. This supports their claim while giving them some advice on how to make it even stronger.

Answer 5

The claim above about research relating to Native Americans and their biological connection to substance dependency is true. A study from the American Journal of Psychiatry, as well as research from two notable psychiatrists of the University of North Carolina found that substance dependence acts as a significant genetic component among Native American populations. Research focused on specific phenotypes connected to the synthesizing of illicit substances and the gene coding for alcohol metabolizing enzymes. It was found that in comparison to other populations, Native Americans lack protective variants against the degradation of these enzymes. Research further found these genomes have connection to other health risks associated with higher levels of body mass index within specific native populations. 

Genomic screen for substance dependence and body mass index in southwest California Indians

Evidence for a Genetic Component for Substance Dependence in Native Americans - PMC

Comments

This response was very well written and backed up. I liked how you added more information to back up the claim that came from credible sources. However, these studies were done in 2014 and 2006 and you didn't really mention anything about possible environmental factors that could lead Native Americans to have these dependencies. This response could just use a little bit more up-to-date sources and a holistic view.

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I think this is very helpful information. It also gives us a cause for other issue the native community faces regarding their health. This is very interesting and  I wonder if this most likely are the effects of past history within the community that leads to the substance dependence than causing that biological connection.

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I really liked how you included the American Journal of Psychiatry and the genomic study, and the mention of enzyme-metabolizing variants. The way you tied genetics to both substance dependence and BMI was a strong connection I hadn’t considered before. It made me wonder if there are ongoing studies about how these genetic traits are being addressed in public health policy.

Answer 6

It's true that there is significant genetic component to substance dependence in Native Americans. There has been a study that estimated heritability at about  50 percent. It showed many variants in genes that were associated to risk such as  OPRM1, CRN1, and  HTR3‑B. However it is also true that many Indigenous people don't have the alcohol protective alleles that are common in East Asian and European groups. The work shows that genetics is a large variable in substance dependence but there is also many cultural, historical, and socioeconomic influences.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25171596/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23791028/

Answer 7

Let start with the fact that the evidence found is only accurate to some Native Americans being genetically tied to substance dependency. These articles that are being presented are from 2013 and an article from 2021 by Madelyn Beck presents the harm it does to the Native Community of simply believing these myths without further information. 

Belief in the myth of an American Indian/Alaska Native biological vulnerability to alcohol problems among reservation‐dwelling participants with a substance use problem - Gonzalez - 2021 - Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research - Wiley Online Library

False narratives create more challenges for American Indians struggling with substance abuse | Boise State Public Radio

Evidence for a Genetic Component for Substance Dependence in Native Americans - PMC

Answer 8

The claim overall is true, as the article presented supports the fact that most Native Americans lack protective variants of alcohol metabolizing enzymes, supporting the statement that there is a genetic component for substance dependence in Native American people. However, this claim can be misleading as this may suggest that this "genetic component" is exclusive to Native Americans. In the study posted by PubMed Central, it is stated that "studies of the genes that code for alcohol metabolizing enzymes have not revealed any risk variants specific to Native American populations". This means that there are no genetic components that put Native American people at a higher risk of developing an alcohol or substance dependency, rather that they often lack enzymes that give them higher protection from drug dependency problems. So rather than there being an additional genetic component that influences the likelihood of addiction, it is the lack of protective genetic components that plays a role.

Answer 9

The claim that Native Americans have a genetic predisposition to substance dependence is partly true but needs context. A 2013 study in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that substance dependence is about 50% heritable in Native Americans, similar to other groups. It studied genes like OPRM1 and GABRA2 but found no unique risk variants for alcohol-metabolizing enzymes. Most Native Americans lack protective gene variants found in other populations. However, a 2021 study in Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research argues this genetic link is overstated and may fuel harmful stereotypes. Environmental factors, like historical trauma and poverty, play a bigger role. The 2013 study only looked at Southwest California Indians, so it may not apply to all tribes.

Sources:

• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3603686/

• https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/acer.14703

• https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/health/2021-11-30/false-narratives-create-more-challenges-for-american-indians-struggling-with-substance-abuse

Answer 10

The headline refers to an American Journal of Psychiatry review (Feb 1 2013) titled “Evidence for a Genetic Component for Substance Dependence in Native Americans.” The authors summarized family, twin, linkage and candidate-gene studies conducted in three U.S. tribal groups and concluded that substance dependence shows a substantial heritable component (~ 50 % of risk) in Native Americans, comparable to other populations.

Across those studies, genes in classic addiction pathways (e.g., OPRM1, CNR1, COMT, GABRA2, MAOA, HTR3B) and chromosomal regions containing ADH/ALDH alcohol-metabolizing clusters showed association signals, while most Native Americans lack the protective ADH1B2 / ALDH22 variants common in East Asians.

A separate heritability study in a Mission-Indian sample (Psychiatric Genetics 2005) reported h² ≈ 0.50 for “any substance dependence,” echoing general-population twin estimates.

Still, findings vary by tribe and phenotype. Some California-Indian families showed strong heritability for withdrawal-related alcohol-dependence symptoms (h² = 0.71), whereas a Plains-Indian cohort showed little evidence for heritable alcohol diagnosis but did for EEG endophenotypes linked to drug tolerance. Environmental drivers—historical trauma, early drinking age, poverty—remain crucial co-factors; reviewers stress that genetic risk is necessary but not sufficient for the high substance-dependence prevalence seen in certain Native communities.

Multiple converging studies support a meaningful genetic contribution to substance dependence in Native Americans—roughly half the risk—mediated by common addiction genes and absence of some protective variants. However, no “Native-specific” risk gene has emerged, and social context strongly shapes whether genetic liability manifests.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5339067