Introducing a new recruitment approach to sample collection for genetic association studies in opioid dependence.

OBJECTIVE: In a modified case-control association study we tested the assumption that two polymorphisms (A(118)G in exon 1 and IVS2+31 in intron 2) of the human mu-opioid receptor gene (OPRM1) confer susceptibility to opioid dependence. METHODS: In contrast to classical case-control studies both groups, opioid dependent cases and non-opioid dependent controls were recruited from individuals who have had access to drugs including opioids and who had been sentenced for violation of the "Dangerous Drugs Act" in Germany. RESULTS: For the two allelic variants of OPRM1 under study we did not find evidence for association with opioid dependence. CONCLUSIONS ;Despite absence of association we think that this recruitment approach introduced here, is useful since it putatively offers a more adequate matching for case-control association studies of opioid dependent individuals.