An intensive effort across multiple laboratories has focused on the need to identify genetically-influenced factors that impact on the risk for heavy drinking and alcohol problems (Ducci and Goldman, 2008; McGue, 1999; Schuckit, 2009). This is a challenging and complex task, as multiple genetic and environmental pathways are likely to contribute to a vulnerability toward repetitive alcohol problems, such as alcohol use disorders (AUDs). One major reason for this search is the hope that identifying such risk factors early in the drinking career might aid in the development of more focused and effectively targeted approaches to preventing costly and life-threatening alcohol problems in the future.
