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Cited by 5Substance Abuse Treatment and OutcomesOpioid Use Disorder TreatmentYouth, Drugs, and Violence

Exploring perceptions of genetic risk and the transmission of substance use disorders

Open access
Keller, Amanda, Bosk, Emily A., Mendez, Alicia, Greenfield, Brett, Flynn, Carolynn, Everett, Gina, Julien, Fabrys, Michael, MacKenzie·2024·Addiction Science & Clinical Practice
DOI 10.1186/s13722-024-00470-wPMC PMC11295387
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Abstract

Background: Substance use disorders (SUDs) have been consistently shown to exhibit moderate intergenerational continuity (1–3). While much research has examined genetic and social influences on addiction, less attention has been paid to clients’ and lay persons’ perceptions of genetic influences on the heritability of SUD (4) and implications for treatment. Methods: For this qualitative study, twenty-six structured Working Model of the Child Interviews (WMCI) were conducted with mothers receiving inpatient SUD treatment. These interviews were thematically analyzed for themes related to maternal perceptions around intergenerational transmission of substance use behaviours. Results: Findings show that over half of the mothers in this sample were preoccupied with their children’s risk factors for addictions. Among this group, 29% spontaneously expressed concerns about their children’s genetic risk for addiction, 54% shared worries about their children’s propensity for addiction without mentioning the word gene or genetic. Additionally, 37% had challenges in even discussing their children’s future when prompted. These concerns mapped onto internal working models of attachment in unexpected ways, with parents who were coded with balanced working models being more likely to discuss intergenerational risk factors and parents with disengaged working models displaying difficulties in discussing their child’s future. Conclusion: This research suggests that the dominant discourse around the brain-disease model of addictions, in its effort to reduce stigma and self-blame, may have unintended downstream consequences for parents’ mental models about their children’s risks for future addiction. Parents receiving SUD treatment, and the staff who deliver it, may benefit from psychoeducation about the intergenerational transmission of SUD as part of treatment.

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  • The brain-disease model can reduce blame but may also decrease hope for recovery and increase perceptions of dangerousness.

    “Other studies caution that while the brain-disease model can reduce blame, it may also decrease hope for recovery and increase perceptions of dangerousness.”

    From Beyond Stigma–Integrating Neurobiology, Genetics, and Awareness Integration Theory in Addiction Recovery (2026) · cites this paper as [84]

    The Background sections on the brain-disease model and on stigma say that reduced blame is a rationale for neurobiological explanations, while critics worry the model may make addiction seem intractable and undermine self-efficacy. The stigma section also discusses perceived likelihood of harm, but does not say the brain-disease model increases perceptions of dangerousness. No page numbers are available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. [91]Padgett DK. Qualitative social work research. The SAGE handbook of social work. Jul. 2012;6:454–66.

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Authors
Keller, A., Bosk, E. A., Mendez, A., Greenfield, B., Flynn, C., Everett, G., Julien, F., & Michael, M.
Affiliations
  • McGill University (CA)
  • Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US)
  • Boston University (US)
Corresponding author
  • Keller, Amanda
  • Bosk, Emily A.
  • Mendez, Alicia
  • Greenfield, Brett
  • Flynn, Carolynn
  • Everett, Gina
  • Julien, Fabrys
ORCID
Venue
Addiction Science & Clinical Practice
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2024-08-02
Volume
19
Issue
1
Pages
57-57
ISSN
  • 1940-0632 (ISSN-L)
  • 1940-0640
DOI
10.1186/s13722-024-00470-w
PMC
PMC11295387
OpenAlex
W4401264845
Cited by
5
References
100
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 3
FWCI
1.52
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Addiction Science & Clinical Practice (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • OpenBU (Boston University) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (#SMM063241)
  • VANIER CANADA GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP (01353-000)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
  • Social Sciences › Demography › Youth, Drugs, and Violence
Keywords
substance use disorders, intergenerational transmission, genetic risk, maternal perceptions, internal working models, attachment, brain disease model of addiction, stigma, psychoeducation
MeSH terms
Adult, Child, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Mother-Child Relations, Mothers, Risk Factors, Substance-Related Disorders, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Qualitative Research

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