Research consistently demonstrates an intergenerational transmission of risk for some forms of problematic drinking (e.g., McGue, 1999). Strong evidence for genetic risk is best illustrated by studies examining the probability of developing an AUD for children of alcoholics (COA) versus those with non-diagnostic parents (McGue, 1997; Schuckit, 1998; Slutske et al., 2008), and research with twin pairs and adopted children (Grant et al., 2006; Zuckerman, 1999). Unfortunately, however, most genetic research interested in discovering heritable components in the emergence of AUDs has focused on adult populations.
