era of ‘next-generation sequencing’ has arrived108 – whether deep sequencing genomic regions of interest will reveal new polymorphisms that may have considerable impact on the etiology of adolescent SUDs remains to be seen. Finally, the extent to which prolonged exposure to psychoactive substances during adolescence leads to modifications in gene expression may be an area of considerable interest. Neuroimaging studies have already begun to investigate the effects of adolescent substance use on the adolescent brain, in some instances, taking specific genes into account as well – this area will likely witness rapid development109,110. It is hoped, with considerable optimism, that adequately powered, genetically informative studies of adolescent substance use will soon illuminate the underpinnings of the complex architecture of adolescent substance involvement and its various comorbidities.
