Review: Genetic and environmental risk factors for alcohol use disorders in American Indians and Alaskan Natives.

ABSTRACT:

Background and objectives

Genetic and environmental predictors for alcohol use disorder (AUD) are both important in the general population. As a group, American Indian and Alaskan Native individuals (AI/AN) are at increased risk for alcohol-related morbidity /mortality, early onset problem drinking and AUD.

Methods

Alcohol consumption behaviors amongst AI/AN tribes, environmental stressors and genetic studies in AI/AN and European-ancestry individuals are reviewed followed by an analysis of unique difficulties for undertaking research with AI/AN.

Results

Some AI/AN tribes have high rates of childhood trauma that predict psychopathology including AUD. The deleterious effects of historical trauma and forced placement in boarding schools cross generations to the present

SUBMITTER: Enoch MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5339067 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature