While a high‐risk sample such as COGA can clearly contribute to characterizing genetic and environmental liability for AUD, it also presents a unique opportunity to study resilience and protective factors. The possibility of identifying such genetic “resilience” variants that may help protect against the development of an alcohol use disorder could provide insight into novel treatments or prevention efforts. For example, Hess et al. 140 created a “polygenic resilience score” for schizophrenia by matching unaffected individuals at high genetic risk with risk‐matched cases, and then identifying genetic variants that contribute to resilience to schizophrenia and do not overlap with risk loci. Individuals with high genetic loading for AUD risk may also be resilient for entirely environmental reasons, such as strong familial and community support, or choosing not to drink after witnessing the effects of addiction on family members with alcohol use problems. In initial efforts to understand who has healthy outcomes despite high genetic risk, we found that higher father–child relationship quality in adolescence promoted delays in alcohol initiation. 141 With large, complex, multi‐generational pedigrees enriched for AUD, COGA provides
