Funding Agency:

National Institute of Health

Total Project Period:

05/01/04 - 04/30/09

Total Project Award:

$75,815

Principal Investigator:

Ralph Tarter, MD
(Pharmacy)

Co-Investigator:

Robert J. Sclabassi, MD, PhD

Project Summary:

This competing renewal application proposes to continue the follow-up study of 800 families enrolled in the center's prospective investigations into the etiology of substance use disorder (SUD).

Proband fathers are ascertained on the basis of the presence or absence of SUD, and have a biological son or daughter between 10-12 years of age at baseline. Ascertainment criterion for SUD probands is a lifetime diagnosis (abuse or dependence) on any illegal compound at a compound consumed without medical prescription. The children of SUD men are assigned to the high average risk (HAR) group. Offspring of men without SUD are assigned to the low average risk (LAR) group. These children are currently in varying stages of follow-up evaluation conducted at ages 12-14, 16, 19, and annually thereafter until age 30.

During the next five years, it is anticipated that approximately 117 subjects undergoing the age 22 assessment will have succumbed to SUD; thus, the center is at the stage where determination of SUD liability is a feasible undertaking.