Laboratory studies are needed to further investigate response to alcohol in African Americans. For example, we reviewed evidence that African Americans experience a sharper increase in stimulation compared to European Americans. In European Americans, experiencing increased response to the rewarding effects of alcohol (e.g., stimulation) is related to experiencing increased behavioral disinhibition while intoxicated (e.g., Assaad et al., 2006). Further, increased behavioral disinhibition while intoxicated has been related to increased alcohol use (Marczinski, Combs, & Fillmore, 2007). African Americans may experience more alcohol problems at lower blood alcohol concentrations as a result of increased response to alcohol leading to reduced behavioral control. This important pathway has not been examined in African Americans.
