The past decade has brought large gains in our understanding of the genetic basis of substance use and related disorders. Gene identification efforts have underscored the highly polygenic nature of substance use behaviors, prompting the development of novel methods for indexing risk from molecular genetic data, such as polygenic approaches to characterize aggregate measured genetic risk. Genetic risk for substance use disorders also varies as a function of the social environment: risky environmental exposures (eg, adverse events) amplify the effects of genetic risk, whereas protective or low-risk environmental exposures minimize the effects of genetic risk. As we move toward a precision medicine model wherein genetic variation can potentially guide personalized treatment plans, it is paramount that we draw upon polygenic methods—consider the powerful role of the social environment in shaping risk for substance use disorders—and incorporate psychosocial treatments that complement pharmacological therapeutic plans. [ Psychiatr Ann . 2021;51(4):170–174.]
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