Clinical-dynamic parameters of heterogeneity of alcohol dependence in 155 tuvinian and russian patients with lucid and psychotic forms of the disease have been studied. A highly progressive form of alcoholism with late onset of systematic consumption of alcohol has been identified in tuvinians as compared with russians. The formation of withdrawal syndrome occurs at later age than in russians (37.7 and 29.6 years; p=0.00004), but its development is more rapid - in average 2-2.5 years of systematic alcohol consumption. Psychotic forms of alcoholism are more frequent in tuvinians with the earlier onset of systematic consumption of alcohol and manifestation of basic disease syndromes (by 7 and 5 years, respectively) than in those with lucid alcoholism. In conclusion, treatment and rehabilitation of patients of different ethnic groups should be based on clinical and social features of the disease.