Virginia Commonwealth University researchers, in collaboration with researchers from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and the University of Oslo in Norway, reported the results of a population-based study of twin pairs that showed that genetic factors influence the illicit drug use in Norway, a country with significantly low levels of psychoactive substance use disorder.

"Prior twin studies of illicit drug use and abuse have all been conducted in Anglophonic countries, specifically the United States and Australia, with high levels of such use," said lead author Dr. Kenneth S. Kendler, a professor of psychiatry and human genetics in Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine.

"This is the first study of a non-English speaking country with much lower rates of drug use -- yet results are similar -- drug use and abuse or dependence is quite heritable."

The findings are published in Psychological Medicine.

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