The papers are based on presentations at a technical review conference held in 1992, sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and focusing on behavioral and biochemical genetic issues in drug abuse. A major theme of the meeting was that genes can be used as independent variables. The participants reached a consensus that drug abuse research has explored and controlled for environmental effects in an excellent manner, but genetic factors are poorly understood and controlled. In addition, further research progress in this area is important to our understanding of both genetic and environmental factors in drug abuse. Individual papers focused on genetic variations in responses to drugs, the use of animal models, and methodological issues. Figures, tables, and reference lists