Follow-up search and interviewing took place between November 2016 and November 2017. Pilot study subjects were drawn from six COGA sites (SUNY Brooklyn, University of Connecticut, Indiana University, Washington University in St. Louis, University of Iowa, and University of California, San Diego); all living participants provided informed consent in compliance with their local IRB’s. Due to limited time and resources, we restricted our sample to COGA subjects who: a) would be at least 50 years of age in 2016 if still alive (born in 1966 or earlier); b) were assessed in 1991 – 2004 as adults with the SSAGA interview (median follow-up interval = 23 years); c) met criteria for lifetime DSM-IV alcohol dependence at the baseline interview; d) had provided a DNA sample; and e) had not refused future participation when last evaluated in COGA (fewer than 1% of COGA participants). These criteria yielded a sample of 2,174 candidates from 1,528 nuclear families, of which 74% were single-participant families. Living participants’ contact details were in many cases determined through family members and internet searches. Death information was initially obtained
