Studies of families, twins, and adoptees support a genetic predisposition to alcoholism. Alcohol metabolism may affect the regulation of alcohol intake, because interference with production or elimination of the alcohol metabolite acetaldehyde has behavioral effects. Ongoing research is examining individual and tribal differences in alcohol…

The paper reveals: alcoholism is the leading cause of death among Native people; Native Americans have a higher alcoholism rate than any other minority group in the country; 20 to 80% of a tribal population had drinking problems; these numbers involve men, women, children, and the unborn; and the trend is toward more alcoholism. The impact on…