In spite of the substantial consequences to the individual and society, genetic research on addictions has remained a relatively low priority. Recent technological advances have provided the tools to detect variation in the genetic architecture between individuals; however, much work still needs to be done to determine the biological relevance and to interpret the associations between these genetic variants with addiction-related phenotypes. An improvement in our understanding of the genetic and environmental factors underlying drug addiction has the potential to increase our understanding of the etiology and neurobiology of addictions, leading to greatly reduced morbidity and mortality by providing novel treatments and by improving the success rates of existing treatments.
