Animal Models in Alcohol Research

Animal models are important tools in the study of alcohol use, abuse, and dependence because they allow researchers to use methods that cannot be used with human subjects. Animal models have been developed to study various aspects of alcohol use and dependence, including alcohol-seeking behavior, alcohol-related organ damage, tolerance to alcohol, and physical dependence on alcohol. Because animal models can be genetically manipulated, they are also valuable for research into the genetic determinants of alcoholism. Issues surrounding the use of animal models in alcohol research include the species of animal used, the method of alcohol administration, and the model’s face and predictive validity.