Noteworthy

In the spring of 2024, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) released its strategic plan for fiscal years 2024–2028, Advancing Alcohol Research to Promote Health and Well-Being. The strategic plan considers the long-term priorities of the alcohol research field while remaining flexible to adapt to emerging public health needs and scientific opportunities.

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.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has partnered with the global online learning platform Kahoot! to provide free interactive quizzes and games for educators and learners. NIH’s Kahoot! page has grown to feature content on teen depression, superbugs, health literacy, lung health, and other health topics.

Underage drinking is a significant public health problem in the United States. As part of its efforts to raise awareness of and combat underage drinking, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has launched NIAAA for Middle School. NIAAA for Middle School is an online resource that helps parents, caregivers, and teachers introduce and reinforce key messages about peer pressure and skills for resisting it, as well as about other important topics related to underage drinking.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with its French counterpart, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (National Institute of Health and Medical Research), also known as Inserm. 

The Honorable Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health for Canada (left), toured the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center on Nov. 13, 2023.

David Lovinger, Ph.D., has been selected as the Scientific Director of the Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).

NIAAA has released a major update to the Alcohol Facts and Statistics webpage. The content of this popular online resource has been expanded with demographic and other data and is now reorganized for improved readability and easier navigability.

Raye Z. Litten, Ph.D., has been appointed Director of the Division of Treatment and Recovery (DTR) at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Dr. Litten joined NIAAA in 1989 and previously served as Associate Director of the Division of Treatment and Recovery Research, Acting Director of the Division of Medications Development, and Acting Director of the Division of Treatment and Recovery Research.

According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than half of Americans ages 18 and older reported drinking alcohol in the past month and about a quarter of this same group reported past-month binge drinking. To help adults who drink alcohol to better understand their relationship with alcohol, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) recently published a major update and redesign of its popular booklet and website, Rethinking Drinking: Alcohol and Your Health.