Mission Statement

The mission of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism is to generate and disseminate fundamental knowledge about the adverse effects of alcohol on health and well-being, and apply that knowledge to improve diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of alcohol-related problems, including alcohol use disorder, across the lifespan.

NIAAA leads the national effort to reduce alcohol-related problems by:

• Conducting and supporting a portfolio of alcohol-related research in a wide range of scientific areas including neuroscience and behavior, epidemiology and prevention, treatment and recovery, and metabolism and health effects
• Coordinating and collaborating with other research institutes and federal programs on alcohol-related issues
• Collaborating with international, national, state, and local institutions, organizations, agencies, and programs engaged in alcohol-related work
• Translating and disseminating research findings to health care providers, researchers, policymakers, and the public

By supporting a broad range of basic, translational, and clinical research, NIAAA aims to: 

• Better understand the health effects of alcohol misuse across the lifespan
• Reveal the biological and socio-cultural origins of alcohol misuse
• Reduce the stigma associated with alcohol problems
• Develop evidence-based prevention and treatment strategies that address alcohol-related issues across the lifespan