Genetic approaches to the analysis of addiction processes.

Recent studies have shown that large genetic differences exist in the extent to which animals will work to obtain drugs abused by humans. These findings suggest that there may be human populations with elevated risk for developing drug addictions. Frank George and Steven Goldberg describe the behavioral genetic and self-administration methods used in these studies of addiction processes, review the findings obtained in genetic studies of drug addiction, and present hypotheses that can be explored in the attempt to better understand and prevent drug addiction.