Dr. Danielle Dick, Director of the Rutgers Addiction Research Center and Professor at Rutgers University, studies how genetics and environment interact to influence substance use and addiction across the lifespan.

Most people will encounter alcohol or other substances at some point in their lives. For many, that use remains occasional and manageable. For others, it becomes something far more disruptive. Understanding why substance use leads to severe challenges for some but not for most has become a central question in addiction research.

In this episode, Dr. Dick explains how the answer may lie in the complex interaction between our genes and our environments, unfolding from childhood into adulthood. By identifying genetic risk factors and tracing how they influence mental health and addiction outcomes, researchers hope to develop better strategies for prevention, early intervention, and treatment.