Alcohol use disorders, including alcohol abuse and dependence, are among the most prevalent mental disorders in the United States, with approximately 8.5% of the US population being affected by them during a one-year period (Grant et al., 2004). Despite the high prevalence of these disorders, the molecular mechanisms underlying many of the behavioral effects of alcohol and those that lead to the development of tolerance and dependence are not well understood (Lewohl et al., 2000, Hanchar et al., 2006).
