Research & Resources

People have different levels of risks for alcohol use disorder, even unrelated to the amount of alcohol they drink. In this paper, this is referred to as “addiction resistance.” Researchers sought to improve understanding of addiction resistance and what factors contribute to it. They studied a sample of healthy young adults to compare their levels of alcohol use and alcohol use disorder symptoms to look for moderating factors. Their results showed that greater emotional stability, norm adherence, and risky behavior avoidance, along with fewer family members with substance use disorders, enhanced addiction resistance. The article, “Addiction resistance to alcohol: What about heavy drinkers who avoid alcohol problems?” was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. It was published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.