Smoking and the genetic contribution to alcohol-dependence risk

Genes influence a person's risk of becoming a smoker as well as the risk of alcohol dependence. Because substantially higher rates of smoking are obse rved in alcoholics than in control groups, uncovering the mechanisms underl ying this association may have important implications for both treatment an d prevention. Data analyses from the 1981 Australian twin panel cohort conf irm a positive genetic correlation between regular smoking and the risk of alcohol dependence that remains significant, even when sociodemographic and personality variables as well as histories of other psychopathologies are taken into account. Acute or chronic effects of smoking on subjective respo nses to alcohol may play a role in this association.