I was reading an article about the opiod crisis the other day, and something struck me as curious, so I did a little digging. I don't know very much about the Opium wars or the current crisis. But when I looked into the genetics there were some interesting results. Basically, there are some genes that can cause you to be a 'non-responder' to morphine / opiod medications. The people with the mutations will require a lot more of the medication for it to be an effective pain reliever because they don't have the right enzymes. Apparently, the mu receptor A118G mutation (to AG or GG instead of AA) is associated with increased risk of addictions and increased neuroticism. The frequency of the A118G polymorphism is highly variable ranging from 2% in Afro-Americans, 8–30% in Caucasians and 50% in Asian populations. 10-16% of Ethiopians and Saudi Arabians (Middle Easterners?) are ultra metabolizers, meaning that it is out of their system very quickly - I'm not sure how this would affect addiction.
This makes a lot of sense. I'm not sure if the Sassoons somehow knew or realized that the Chinese were particularly susceptible to opiod addiction. But it was an ideal choice for the drug war.
And apparently the current opiod crisis has really been impacting caucasians. This mutation has been known for years..... So if some group of people wanted to target specific ethnic groups, this seems to be an effective way.
These genetics also affect the metabolism of other drugs from antidepressants to warfarin. CYP-2D6 is another one.
I don't have the time to look at all the genes that affect opiod metabolism, but if someone was interested it would probably indicate which ethnic groups will be hardest hit. I suspect if you add up the different gene mutations, it will be Asians and Caucasians.
However, it appears that Asians have a cultural resistance to opioids and other drugs and a more communal society, so I think that would decrease the risk of addiction for Asians.
The increased risk of neuroticism is also interesting.
Also of note - these genes affect metabolism of antidepressants fluoxetine and Effexor. It looks like people with the mutation require high doses.
Polymorphism A118G of opioid receptor mu 1 (OPRM1) is associated with emergence of suicidal ideation / behavior with antidepressants.
There is growing evidence suggesting an implication of opioidergic system in the physiopathology of SB. Patients using high doses of opioids seem to be more inclined to have SI and attempt suicide. Others studies found low levels of endorphin and mu opioid receptor (MOR) activation in patients presenting a major depressive episode (MDE).
Even just looking at this one gene, it does appear that Asians and Caucasians are more prone to neuroticism, depression and suicide (at least while on antidepressants).
Some people more knowledgeable might have something to add about genetics and the opioidergic system.
But I wonder if the Caucasian genetic mutation and... Weakness.... to antidepressants might have been related to MKUKTRA /school crazies/ gov operations.
The British used opioids to control the Chinese people during the colonial periods.
Well... 'the British'
Masters of the opium trade: the fabulous wealth of the Sassoons Delving deep into family history, Joseph Sassoon describes the shrewdness and panache of a great entrepreneurial dynasty
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/masters-of-the-opium-trade-the-fabulous-wealth-of-the-sassoons/
The rise and fall of the opium-fueled Sassoon dynasty, the ‘Rothschilds of the East’ In 'Sassoon,' Prof. Joseph Sassoon tells how his distant family of Baghdadi Jews fled to India and built an empire on the legal narcotics trade, hobnobbing with the British royals https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-opium-fueled-sassoon-dynasty-the-rothschilds-of-the-east/
Didn't know this history. Interesting and also related to other contemporary happenings
But yes, it's an amazing coincidence that they used their great weakness against them. How they found out or if they even knew, I'm not sure.
Oh i see yeah no doubt. Though, weren't there like opium dens before hand? Might be a preexisting cultural vice they leaned on
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychochemical_warfare
There are also people who never get hangovers due to their genetics. It appears that people with Celtic heritage may have more of those mutations. But more research could be done.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-11358691/Why-people-just-not-hangovers.html#:~:text=Meanwhile%2C%20the%20ALDH2%20gene%20affects,helping%20them%20avoid%20the%20hangover
https://www.verywellmind.com/alcohol-metabolism-key-to-alcohols-dangers-66524#:~:text=Genetics%20and%20Metabolism,-The%20size%20of&text=Some%20people%20have%20ADH%20and,acetate%2C%20more%20quickly%20than%20others
Apparently, because Asians are more sensitive to alcohol, they are less likely to develop alcoholism.
I had a panic attack when given morphine at a hospital once.
Basically, it felt like my diaphragm stopped working and i had to manually think about breathing to keep breathing. Which led me to panic because i was laboriously breathing because the morphine relaxed my diaphragm muscle so much it wasn't inflating/deflating lungs good enough.
Oh wow, yes, I read that is a side effect. Scary! I'm glad you are alright!
Good point, the blood type and rh factor may have a tie-in, as well! Obviously, the gov't has had decades, billionaires of dollars and thoughts of people to study all this and the best way to achieve their means.
But the racial difference even on this one gene is shocking.
2% of blacks, 25% of whites and 50% of Asians. And up to 16% of Arabs being ultra metabolizers. The implications are huge for any kind of drug treatment and I don't know if regular doctors know about this. Or if it would be racist to educate them on genetics.
Just that one gene has so many effects on the mind and body.
And now they are messing around with mrna when they probably don't even understand the genes fully.
Jews Brits Turks Indians Americans Chinese....
Lots of people got rich.
Yale is named after a drug dealer, yo!