Conclusion on Genetic Links to Alcohol, Tobacco Use: It`s Complicated

Research into alcohol and tobacco use that involved more than 100 scientists from across the world has identified well over 500 genetic variants that influence these behaviors.

Locations in the genome that appear to be associated with smoking and alcohol use also affect numerous other chemical functions, including those for glutamate, dopamine and acetylcholine, the researchers reported. These findings offer further guidance as researchers seek genetic breakthroughs that could lead to important treatment and prevention strategies.

Results of this study, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and published in the journal Nature Genetics, included that there are more than 400 locations in the genome and at least 566 variants within those locations that influence alcohol use or smoking. The research looked at data from around 1.2 million people.

The researchers examined factors such as age of onset of drinking or smoking and frequency of use, then cross-checked those findings with health variables such as disease states and correlated those results with specific genes.