Study Confirms Real-World Reliability of a Key Tool for Alcohol Screening

The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test–Consumption (AUDIT-C) is a key, three-question tool used by health professionals to screen people for alcohol misuse. Although previous clinical research has validated use of the AUDIT-C, its test–retest reliability—a measure of the consistency of a test’s results over time—has not been evaluated in routine-care conditions with adult primary care … Read more

Sober-Curious Young Americans May Be Changing the Conversation Around Alcohol

According to data from the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 68% of adults ages 21 and older in the United States drink alcohol.1 At the same time, researchers believe that the recent “sober-curious” movement may be encouraging some people to reevaluate their relationship with alcohol and the impact that drinking can have on … Read more

NIAAA Releases Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2024-2028

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has released Advancing Alcohol Research to Promote Health and Well-Being, the Institute’s Strategic Plan for fiscal years 2024-2028.  The plan charts a course for the next five years and outlines the goals and priorities that will guide NIAAA’s research through a dynamic balance of basic, translational, and … Read more

Alcohol Research: Current Reviews Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Alcohol Research: Current Reviews (ARCR). ARCR is an open-access, peer-reviewed journal published by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) at the National Institutes of Health. Open-access journals are available without barriers such as fees. Although this journal has evolved over time, its mission remains unchanged. ARCR … Read more

Scientists Find Brain Pathways for Threat Response in Mice

Scientists at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) have identified brain pathways that may coordinate an animal’s response to potentially traumatic situations. Understanding where and how neural circuits mediate such functions—and how they could malfunction—may provide clues about their role in trauma-related and stress-related psychiatric disorders in people. A report of this … Read more

Digital Health Technology Shows Promise for Efforts To Address Drinking Among Youth

Underage drinking and alcohol misuse by young adults are serious public health concerns in the United States. The 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that 15.1% of people ages 12 to 20 and 50.2% of people ages 18 to 25 reported drinking alcohol in the past month, with 8.2% of 12- … Read more