Why Do Some People Drink Too Much?: The Role of Genetic and Psychosocial Influences

A sizable minority of the population abuses alcohol. Research has found that some vulnerability to developing alcohol-related problems is conveyed genetically, and animal research has indicated that inheritance can take many forms. Studies in mice have demonstrated that various individual genes or groups of genes can shape very distinct responses to alcohol. By identifying the proteins these genes encode and the mechanisms by which the genes influence an animal’s biochemical response to alcohol, scientists can gain insight into the features of human alcoholism and provide a basis for developing pharmaceuticals that short-circuit these genetically defined processes.