The hypocretin/orexin (Hcrt) peptide system in the hypothalamus, largely due to its widespread neuronal projections31,32 and neurochemical and genetic heterogeneity33,34, is well known to control numerous aspects of alcohol use disorder across multiple species35,36, including the different behaviors stimulated by embryonic ethanol exposure and associated with excess drug use37,38. This evidence concerns the gene HCRT and alcohol abuse.