Taken together, the results of genetics studies thus far conducted suggest that the genetic influences contributing to substance use, abuse, and dependence in Native American populations are likely similar in kind and magnitude to the genetic influences contributing to the liability for these phenotypes in other ethnic groups. One previous study has demonstrated that a correlation exists between degree of Native American ancestry and substance dependence phenotypes [20] but it remains to be seen if this relationship is due to genetic or environmental influences. Nonetheless, this is an important issue deserving of further study as genetic methodology has demonstrated an advantage in studying Native populations, even when recent admixture between the population isolate and outside populations have occurred if the phenotype of interest is correlated with degree of ancestry from the population isolate [65]. It is likely that more advanced genetic techniques such as genomewide association studies, sequencing strategies, and investigations of copy number variation, combined with admixture analyses will shed further light on this issue. Additionally, a number of environmental factors could be targeted to potentially reduce rates of
