Potential gene therapy for alcoholism.

Genes that have an actual or a potential relationship to alcoholism may be useful targets for therapy. Candidate genes are considered in relationship to family studies, differences in alcohol preferences in various rodent strains, biochemical reactions, physiologic response mechanisms, and alterations in brain pharmacology. Suggestions are made concerning the identification of candidate genes, design of gene antisense constructs, and techniques for their organ-specific delivery. The complexities surrounding alcoholism in humans make it likely that several simultaneous approaches may be required for effective therapy for alcoholism.