Christal N. Davis, PhD
Credit: ResearchGate
A recent study suggested that the genetic variants in the opioid use disorder (OUD) risk algorithm do not meet reasonable standards in identifying OUD risk.1
“We found no evidence to support the clinical utility of the 15 [single nucleotide variants] purported to predict OUD risk,” wrote investigators, led by Christal N. Davis, PhD, from the Center for Studies of Addiction at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.
In 2022, 6.1 million US residents aged ≥ 12 years met the criteria for OUD; 94.8% acknowledged misusing prescription analgesics and 40.9% reported misusing medication from a physician. Since 2015, opioid overdose deaths have risen steadily, prompting efforts to identify individuals at risk.2
Research has shown that genetic variation (3.74%),…