Addiction news and addiction widget

The brain's serotonergic system plays an important role in alcohol preference and consumption. New findings show that specific DNA sequence variations of the serotonin transporter gene can influence drinking intensity among alcohol-dependent individuals. The brain's serotonergic system plays an important role in alcohol preference and consumption. The serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4), in particular, may regulate a person's propensity for severe drinking.

Hazardous drinking among college students is a public-health concern, often exceeding that found among other young adults who are not attending college. There have been no national studies of this issue, however, outside of North America. This study examined hazardous drinking among undergraduate students in New Zealand, finding that binge drinking - as well as related health, social and legal problems - are pervasive.

While the physiological damage and social havoc created by alcohol abuse and dependency are well-known, it is also true that light-to-moderate drinking has certain health benefits. This mini-review summarizes a roundtable discussion held at the July 2007 annual meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism in Chicago, Illinois. Results will be published in the February 2009 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research and are currently available at Early View.

American Journal of Drug & Alcohol Abuse

American Journal of Drug & Alcohol Abuse

American Journal of Drug & Alcohol Abuse

American Journal of Drug & Alcohol Abuse