Alcohol Research Group

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          • ABOUT THE CENTER

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          • MEET THE DIRECTOR


            Senior Scientist, William (Bill) C. Kerr, PhD, is Director of ARG’s National Alcohol Research Center and Co-Directs the National Alcohol Survey and the Health Disparities projects.  Bill also serves as the scientific director at ARG and continues to lead R01 projects, including a grant to investigate secondhand harms from alcohol and other drugs.

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          • MEET THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

            Scientist Nina Mulia, DrPH, is Center Associate Director and Director of the Alcohol Services project. She specializes in and has published widely on race and ethnicity and socioeconomic disparities in heavy drinking, alcohol problems, and alcohol services utilization.

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          • ASSESSING HID OVER THE LIFECOURSE

            This project, led by Camillia Lui, PhD, traces trends in harmful drinking patterns over a 40-year period, and identifies a range of alcohol-related precursors and problems through event-based and population-based approaches to inform early screening and interventions for high-risk groups.

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    • National Alcohol Surveys
          • ABOUT THE SURVEY

            • About the National Alcohol Survey
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            • Get Access to the NAS data
          • MEET THE SURVEY CO-DIRECTOR

            Scientist and Deputy Scientific Director, Priscilla Martinez, oversees the survey design, data collection, and analyses.  In the latest cycle of the NAS, Priscilla conducted dried blood spot sampling to help better understand the relationship between how our immune systems work and what role they might play in how alcohol use can affect our mental health.

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news

The Long-Term Impact of Childhood Adversity on Adolescent and Young Adult Substance Use

May 2, 2025 by

Early childhood adversity can have lasting health effects, including increased substance use risk. This study analyzed data from 4,582 children (born 1984–2000) in the National Longitudinal Study of Youth-1979 cohort. Results showed that exposure to high parental conflict or maternal substance use ("threat-related adversity") predicted more frequent alcohol and cannabis use in adolescence and early adulthood (ages 22–32). In contrast, deprivation-related adversity (low cognitive stimulation, … [Read more...]

Understanding Mental Health, Substance Use, and Suicide Risk Among Youth

April 10, 2025 by

Researchers: Camillia K. Lui, PhD, Nina Mulia, DrPH Understanding the complex interplay between mental health, substance use, and identity among adolescents is crucial for effective prevention and intervention. Recent research highlights significant disparities in suicidal ideation, substance use, and mental health risks among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) youth, as well as other racial and ethnic groups. While certain subgroups face heightened risks, broad data … [Read more...]

How Flawed Science Could Shape U.S. Alcohol Guidelines

April 8, 2025 by

Why NASEM's approach to assessing alcohol risks deserves a closer look With updated US dietary guidelines being developed, a group of leading alcohol and public health researchers is urging caution about how we interpret data on drinking and health. In a recent commentary in The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, researchers argue that many of the studies and approaches used to inform drinking guidelines, including those cited and employed by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and … [Read more...]

New Study Reveals Why Alcohol Use Increased During the Pandemic

April 2, 2025 by

PRESS RELEASE Shifting alcohol availability, accessibility, and coping strategies drove higher consumption A new study published today in PLOS One uncovers key social and environmental factors that drove a significant rise in alcohol consumption during COVID-19. Researchers from the Alcohol Research Group, a program of the Public Health Institute, found that increased alcohol availability and accessibility, and drinking as a coping mechanism, played a major role in shaping drinking … [Read more...]

When Health and Alcohol Mix: Insights on High-Risk Drinking

March 18, 2025 by

Researchers: Won Kim Cook, PhD, Christina Tam, PhD, Camillia Lui, PhD, Thomas K. Greenfield, PhD, William C. Kerr, PhD Excessive alcohol consumption remains a critical public health issue, particularly among individuals with chronic health conditions. While heavy drinking and high-intensity drinking (HID) are well-documented concerns, their relationship with multimorbidity, that is managing multiple chronic illnesses, adds another layer of complexity to understanding alcohol-related risks. Our … [Read more...]

What Recovery Means for People Recovering from Substance Use Disorder

March 12, 2025 by

In 2023, Sarah E. Zemore, ARG senior scientist, co-authored the study Understanding the Shared Meaning of Recovery from Substance Use Disorders: New Findings from the What is Recovery Project. This study provides valuable insights into the factors that sustain a healthy, addiction-free life. The research is featured on the Addiction Medicine Journal Club podcast, hosted by Dr. Sonya Del Tredici and Dr. John Keenan. In the episode, they explore the complex and evolving definition of “recovery” … [Read more...]

WSJ: William C. Kerr Shares Insights on Health Risks of Alcohol Consumption

February 13, 2025 by

Originally published in The Wall Street Journal by Brianna Abbott and Josh Ulick "You can probably assume that the tequila shot staring at you from the sticky bartop isn’t good for you. But what about that glass of red wine at dinner? Some Americans have long been sold on the so-called health benefits of red wine, partly because of animal studies that touted the promise of an antioxidant called resveratrol to fight against a range of diseases. But scientists have debunked that concept in … [Read more...]

William C. Kerr Discusses Alcohol Use and Injuries in Time Magazine

January 30, 2025 by

“The tide has largely turned against alcohol. Drinking, at least in moderation, was once seen as a harmless—or even healthy—indulgence that could strengthen your heart and even lengthen your lifespan. But in many scientific circles, consuming virtually any amount of alcohol is now seen as toxic. On Jan. 3, outgoing Surgeon General Vivek Murthy released an advisory warning that alcohol consumption raises the risk of at least seven types of cancer. Shortly afterward, a second federal … [Read more...]

The Impact of Discrimination on Alcohol Use Varies Across Different Groups

January 21, 2025 by

A new study in Addictive Behaviors Reports applied an intersectional lens to explore the impact of discrimination on same day drinking patterns among sexual minority populations and uncovered significant differences between groups shaped by intersecting identities such as race, sex, and sexual orientation. The research team conducted a daily diary survey with self-identified sexual minorities, defined as individuals whose sexual identity differed from the majority orientation of people (e.g., … [Read more...]

Even Small Amounts of Alcohol Increase Health Risks, New Report Reveals

January 16, 2025 by

Emeryville, CA –The recently released Alcohol Intake and Health Study finds that even low levels of drinking raise the risk of cancer and death. Conducted by a scientific review panel under the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD), the study includes contributions from Priscilla Martinez, PhD, Deputy Scientific Director and Scientist at the Alcohol Research Group, a program of the Public Health Institute. Key Findings Risks far outweigh the … [Read more...]

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Latest News

May 2nd, 2025
The Long-Term Impact of Childhood Adversity on Adolescent and Young Adult Substance Use
April 10th, 2025
Understanding Mental Health, Substance Use, and Suicide Risk Among Youth
April 8th, 2025
How Flawed Science Could Shape U.S. Alcohol Guidelines
April 2nd, 2025
New Study Reveals Why Alcohol Use Increased During the Pandemic
March 18th, 2025
When Health and Alcohol Mix: Insights on High-Risk Drinking

Recent Findings

April 2nd, 2025
New Study Reveals Why Alcohol Use Increased During the Pandemic
November 23rd, 2024
Data disaggregation reveals hidden suicide risk
November 21st, 2024
Millions of Americans Hurt By Others’ Drinking, Drug Use: Study
September 4th, 2024
Alcohol Consumption Trends Across Disadvantaged Populations
June 4th, 2024
Socioeconomic status may determine how alcohol affects heart health

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About ARG

We are a non-profit research organization that seeks to improve public health through deepening our understanding of alcohol and other drug use and investigating innovative approaches to reduce its consequences for individuals, families, and communities.

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