This department investigates the natural history of involvement in drugs, the risk factors and consequences of drug abuse in a lifespan perspective, and the comorbidity of substance abuse with problem behaviors and psychiatric disorders in adolescence and adulthood. Two newly initiated areas of investigation include the genetics of nicotine dependence, and the use of mouse models to explore the molecular basis of epidemiological paradigms. Epidemiological investigations are carried out on longitudinal cohorts and on secondary analysis of national data sets. Cigarette smoking and nicotine dependence represent a major focus of current research activities.
