Alcohol abuse is a complex multifactorial disease. It is believed that alcohol dependence is mostly caused by genetic (40-50%) and environmental (50-60%) factors. Aim. The aim of this study was to assess the relation between the alcohol dependence syndrome (ADS) and the polymorphism of the selected genes (GRIK3, MITT, ANKK1, ADH4). Methods. The study was conducted in the Department and Clinic of Psychiatry, the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin in the years 2006-2008. It involved 100 patients hospitalised with Alcohol Dependence Syndrome (ADS). DNA polymorphisms were detected using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Statistical calculations were done with SPSS version 9.0. The chi-square test was applied to calculate the differences in the frequency of allelic forms. Results. Comparison between the patients with ADS and the patients from the control group demonstrated statistically significant association of ADH4 (rs1800759) with the alcohol dependence syndrome. Both the A/A genotype and the A allele were more common in patients with ADS. Also, analysis of the association of the ANKK1 gene revealed statistically significant differences (p=0.004) between the ADS group and the control group. No statistically significant differences considering other associations were found. Conclusion. Our results suggest that the analysed polymorphisms of ANKK1 and ADH4 can play an important part in the pathogenesis of alcohol abuse. The greater study group would increase the statistical power of the study and help to isolate homogeneous sub-groups of patients.