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Genetics and Epidemiology of Alcohol Consumption and Dependence Symptoms in Israel |
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Alcohol consumption in Israel has been shown to be very low in numerous studies conducted since the 1970's. However, evidence now suggests that Israel may now be undergoing a period of change in terms of alcohol consumption, with younger adults and recent Russian immigrants drinking more. Elevated prevalence of ADH1B*2, an allele of a gene involved in the metabolism of alcohol in the liver, is elevated among Jewish groups in general, including Jewish Israelis. (Under an earlier nomenclature, the ADH1B*2 allele was known as ADH2*2.) Thus, Israel presents a unique conjunction of environmental and genetic influences on alcohol consumption and dependence symptoms.
Findings from this research include:
Ashkenazic Jews in Israel are more likely than Sephardic Jews to report recent drinking (which was relatively common) and getting drunk (which was rare).
Immigrants from the former Soviet Union who arrived in Israel since 1989 are more likely to report recent drinking and getting drunk than other Israelis.
ADH1B*2 is protective against heavy drinking in Israeli Jews.
ADH1B*2 is protective against alcohol dependence symptoms in Israeli Jews.
ADH1B*2, an allele of a gene affecting the metabolism of alcohol in the liver, has an elevated prevalence in Israeli Jews compared to non-Jewish groups with a Nothern-European background, and is higher among Sephardics than Ashkenazis in Israel.
Younger Israelis are more likely than older Israelis to drink heavily and to experience DSM-IV alcohol dependence symptoms.
Topics of current investigation in this area include the interaction of gene and environmental effects in the occurrence of heavy drinking and alcohol dependence symptoms. A population-based study of these issues was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) in 2003.
Selected Publications:
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Schiff M, Benbenishty R, McKay M, DeVoe E, Liu X, Hasin D: Exposure to terrorism and Israeli youth's
psychological distress and alcohol use: an exploratory study. In press, Am J Addictions.
Hasin D, Aharonovich E, Liu X, Maman Z, Matseoane K, Carr L, Li T: Alcohol and ADH2 in Israel: Ashkenazis, Sephardics and recent Russian Immigrants. American Journal of Psychiatry 159:1432-1434, 2002.PDF Hasin D, Aharonovich E, Liu X, Maman Z, Matseoane K, Carr L, Li T: Alcohol dependence symptoms and Alcohol Dehydrogenase 2 Polymorphism: Israeli Ashkenazis, Sephardics and recent Russian immigrants. Alcoholism: Clinical Experimental Research 26:1315-1321, 2002.PDF Neumark Y, Rahav G, Teichman M, Hasin D: Alcohol drinking patterns among Jewish and Arab men and women in Israel. Journal of Studies on Alcohol 62:443-447, 2001. Aharonovich E, Hasin D, Rahav G, Meydan J, Neumark Y: Differences in drinking patterns among Ashkenazic and Sephardic Israeli adults. Journal of Studies on Alcohol 62:301-305, 2001. Rahav G, Hasin D, Paykin A: Drinking patterns of recent Russian immigrants and other Israelis: 1995 national survey results. American Journal of Public Health 89:1212-1216, 1999. PDF Hasin D, Rahav G, Meydan J, Neumark Y: The drinking of earlier and more recent Russian immigrants to Israel: comparison to other Israelis. Journal of Substance Abuse 10:341-353, 1998. |
Choose another research area: Natural history of alcohol use disorders
Comorbidity of psychiatric and substance use disorders in treatment settings
Measurement issues in substance use and psychiatric disorders
NYSPI/Columbia University |
1051 Riverside Drive, Box 123 |
New York, New York 10032 |
Tel. (212) 543-5035 |
E-mail: dsh2@columbia.edu |