Genetically informative research on adolescent substance use: methods, findings, and challenges

Area of Science:

• * Genetic epidemiology
• * Adolescent substance use and misuse

Background:

• * Substance use and substance use disorders (SUDs) are significant public health concerns in adolescents.
• * Understanding the etiology of SUDs requires examining genetic and environmental influences.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To review the genetic epidemiology of substance use and misuse in adolescents.
• * To provide an overview of genetically informative research strategies and their findings.

Main Methods:

• * Selective review of adoption, twin, and extended-family studies.
• * Examination of linkage and association studies, including genome-wide association studies (GWAS).

Main Results:

• * Strong heritability for nicotine, alcohol, and illicit drug dependence liability in adults.
• * Greater influence of shared environment in youth and early substance involvement.
• * Overlapping genetic influences across drug classes and co-occurrence with externalizing/internalizing psychopathology.
• * Identification of candidate genes through advanced genetic technologies.

Conclusions:

• * Genetically informative designs are crucial for understanding SUD etiology.
• * Research on aggregate genetic factors and specific gene variants, interacting with environment, offers promising insights.
• * These studies aid in delineating genetic effects and understanding developmental risk and gene-environment interactions in SUDs.