National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Researchers from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) argue that alcoholism is a genetically complex disorder, influenced by multiple genes interacting with each other and environmental factors to produce the disease. They maintain further that while alcoholism always has a genetic basis, individuals in different families will develop alcoholism under the influence of different predisposing genes. Genetic studies on alcoholism can lead the way to better treatments and prevention methods, the researchers contend. The NIAAA is part of the National Institutes of Health—a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services—and conducts research focused on improving the treatment and prevention of alcoholism and alcohol- related problems.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to NIAAA researchers, what do the...