Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a complex multifactorial disease that is both genetically and environmentally influenced. An individual’s environment can in theory be manipulated to diminish the risk for the development of addiction to alcohol. However, current approaches to prevention and treatment of AUD are only moderately effective, as evidenced by significant rates of lifetime AUD in the general US population1 and high rates of relapse under available treatment regimens.2 This review will discuss current knowledge about genetic influences on AUD in American Indians and Alaskan Natives (AI/AN) in the context of all genetic research in this domain, and will focus on some of the environmental stressors that are common to all societies and those that are unique to AI/AN.
