Familial Transmission of Substance Dependence: Alcohol, Marijuana, Cocaine, and Habitual Smoking

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Abstract
IT HAS LONG BEEN recognized that family members of an alcohol-dependent individual are more likely to suffer from alcohol dependence.1-4 Adoption and twin studies demonstrate that the familial aggregation of alcohol dependence is in part caused by genetic factors.5-8 There is also evidence of increased familial aggregation of psychoactive drug abuse and dependence. Several studies have found increased rates of drug abuse and/or dependence in relatives of individuals dependent on opiates or cocaine compared with relatives of alcoholics or subjects from the general population.9-14 A case-control study of adoptees separated at birth from their biological parents and differing by the presence or absence of drug abuse or dependence in their biological parents has demonstrated the importance of genetic factors in the development of substance dependence.15 Twin studies that examined genetic influences of drug use disorder (defined as any illicit drug abuse or dependence) have found higher rates of concordance for drug use disorder among monozygotic twins than dizygotic twins.16,17 These family, adoption, and twin studies support the familial transmission of alcohol and drug dependence and implicate genetic factors.

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