When disseminating this research to the public, it is crucial to convey how to appropriately interpret this information. Substance dependences are complex disorders, phenotypically and etiologically. There is no gene that makes an individual an alcoholic or a cocaine user; instead, there are multiple genes of subtle effects that interact to make the individual more vulnerable to a host of behaviors and disorders, many of which are characterized by behavioral disinhibition, including alcoholism and illicit drug use. These genetic vulnerabilities work in tandem with the individual’s dynamic environment to protect or promote the development of externalizing spectrum problems. Although knowledge of the specific genes involved in addiction is not sufficiently advanced for this information to be used in clinical settings at the present time, the hope is that eventually information about specific genes that alter susceptibility for addictive disorders can be used to provide more individual-specific risk assessments. This information could be used to create more tailored programs for prevention and intervention. Recognizing this potential for genetic information will necessitate our understanding the pathways of risk and environmental factors that moderate risk associated with specific genetic profiles.
