Specific familial transmission in substance abuse.

In contrast to studies on alcoholism, there is little documentation on familial transmission of drug abuse. This study was designed to determine whether specific familial transmission of substance abuse occurs: a greater incidence of drug abuse in probands with a family history of drug abuse than in those with a family history of alcoholism. Probands were 305 consecutively admitted patients to an inpatient chemical dependency treatment center, whose substance abuse/dependence diagnoses were based on DSM-III criteria and a structured interview. Family history data were obtained from each proband. Log linear analysis investigated the association between family and proband substance abuse. As abuse of nonalcoholic substances was significantly greater in probands with family histories of drug abuse, specific familial transmission is suggested.