The GABRA2 gene has been implicated in AUDs and DD [89]. In a study of treatment-seeking, substance-dependent African American men, one common GABRA2 haplotype that tags African ancestry appeared to confer resilience to the development of addiction (AD/heroin/cocaine) in individuals exposed to severe childhood maltreatment. Moreover, one unlinked, potentially functional intron 2 SNP rs11503014 increased the risk of addiction (particularly to cocaine), but only in association with severe childhood maltreatment [90•]. It remains to be seen whether these rs11503014 G×E effects play a role in risk–resilience for development of substance dependence in other ethnic groups.
