Understanding the Etiology of Alcohol Use Disorders: A Developmental Perspective

Alcohol Use Disorders, edited by Hiram E. Fitzgerald and Leon I. Puttler, presents a comprehensive understanding of the etiological processes that contribute to the development of alcohol use disorders (AUD). This volume is based on thirty years of longitudinal studies designed to assess the pre-onset origins, predictors of onset, and outcomes through early adulthood.

The Developmental Approach

The overriding theme of the volume is that the origins and expression of AUD are best understood within the context of developmental processes and dynamic systems organization and change. These dynamic systems give rise to diverse pathways that are characterized by multi-finality and equi-finality due to the exchanges among genes, epigenetic processes, and the complexities of the individual organism’s experiential world.

Pathways to Risk and Resilience

For some individuals, these dynamic processes lead to risk cumulative or cascade effects that embody adverse childhood experiences that exacerbate risk, predict early onset drinking (or smoking), and are highly likely to lead to AUD during the transitions to adolescence and emerging adulthood. In other cases, protective factors within or outside of the individual’s immediate family enable embodiment of normative stress regulatory systems and neural networks that support resilience and prevention of AUD and other addictive behaviors.

A Comprehensive Resource

Alcohol Use Disorders is a valuable resource for researchers, practitioners, and students interested in understanding the developmental origins of alcohol use disorders. The book provides insights into the complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and developmental factors that contribute to the risk and resilience for AUD.

With 400 pages of in-depth analysis and discussion, this hardcover volume is an essential addition to any library focused on addiction research, developmental psychology, and public health. Published by Oxford University Press in January 2018, it is available in English and measures 9.9 x 1.3 x 7.3 inches.