Methylation of OPRL1 mediates the effect of psychosocial stress on binge drinking in adolescents

Background Nociceptin is a key regulator linking environmental stress and alcohol drinking. In a genome‐wide methylation analysis, we recently identified an association of a methylated region in the OPRL 1 gene with alcohol‐use disorders. Methods Here, we investigate the biological basis of this observation by analysing psychosocial stressors, methylation of the OPRL 1 gene, brain response during reward anticipation and alcohol drinking in 660...