Breakthrough findings could lead to more effective prevention and treatment strategies for multiple substance use disorders By combing through genomic data of over 1 million people, scientists have identified genes commonly inherited across addiction disorders, regardless of the substance being used. This dataset – one of the largest of its kind – may help reveal new treatment targets across multiple...

Print PDF TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Section 1: National Health and Alcohol Data Sets. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)—1984–2020, Annually. Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (CIFASD)—2003–2007, 2007–2012, 2012–2017. Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA)—1991–2016, Ongoing. Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA)—1985–1986, 1987–1988, 1990–1991, 1992–1993, 1995–1996, 2000–2001, 2005–2006, 2010–2011, and 2015–2016. Drug Abuse Warning...

The NIAAA community mourns the passing of Ann P. Streissguth, Ph.D., who died on August 1, 2023. An internationally renowned expert on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), Dr. Streissguth and colleagues published the first study identifying “fetal alcohol syndrome” in the United States and its link to maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy. “Dr. Streissguth was a pioneer whose seminal research...

If you or a loved one needs help with an alcohol problem, you have several options beyond in-person care. You can access professional telehealth care by phone or video chat. You can take self-guided online programs to reduce or quit drinking. And you can attend online mutual-support groups. You might put together a care plan that combines some or all...

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) will host the annual 2023 NIDA-NIAAA Frontiers in Addiction Research Mini-Convention as as a 2-day virtual meeting on November 7-8, 2023. The annual NIDA-NIAAA Mini-Convention provides a forum for presentations and discussions of current topics in neuroscience and addiction research. Topics of significant...

Welcome to NIAAA for Middle School Underage drinking is a significant public health problem in the United States. This webpage contains interactive activities to help parents, caregivers, and teachers introduce and reinforce key messages about peer pressure, resistance skills, and other important topics related to underage drinking. These engaging activities are designed for middle schoolers ages 11 to 13. They...

164th Meeting of the National Advisory Council on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism- September 7, 2023. 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM (ET): Open to the public. Hybrid meeting: Conference Room A-C, 6700B Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD. Individuals details to attend in person: please contact rv.srinivas@nih.gov for details. Watch on NIH Videocast: https://videocast.nih.gov/watch=49911 View the meeting agenda.

Use the following role-playing exercise to explore and discuss expectations around alcohol with your middle schooler. To view or download printouts of the scripts, please click here [PDF – 3.98 MB]. Role-Playing Exercise Do you think drinking a sports drink will make you a better athlete? What about if you wear the coolest new clothes—will everyone stop and check you...

Middle schoolers face peer pressure in many different ways, whether it’s to have the latest smartphone or app, wear trendy clothes, or go somewhere to hang out with friends. Your middle schooler will feel peer pressure when they are being pushed toward making certain choices—good or bad— by their friends or classmates. What’s so difficult about avoiding peer pressure? Simply...

Use the following role-playing exercise to explore and discuss peer pressure situations with your middle schooler. To view or download printouts of the scripts, please click here [PDF – 2.96 MB]. Role-Playing Exercise Can your middle schooler figure out what kind of pressure is going on in each scene? Give your middle schooler the script for this exercise and ask...

Use the following role-playing exercise to explore and discuss two types of peer pressure—spoken and unspoken pressure—with your middle schooler. To view or download printouts of the scripts, please click here [PDF – 1.26 MB]. Role-Playing Exercise Give your middle schooler the script and ask them to read the below scenes, and then discuss the type of peer pressure represented...

When middle schoolers face pressure to do things that are not right or good for them, they have the right to resist. They have the right to say no, the right not to give a reason why, and the right to just walk away from a situation. Resisting pressure can be hard for some people. Why? They… Are afraid of...

Use the following role-playing exercise with your middle schooler to explore and discuss different ways of saying no. To view or download printouts of the scripts, please click here [PDF – 740.17 KB]. Role-Playing Exercise Give your middle schooler the script and ask them to read the scenes below. Then discuss the different ways to say no and why these...