Understanding Alcohol Use and Its Effects in Communities
Official title: Epidemiology of Alcohol Problems
Funded at Public Health Institute · NIH-11045606 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tracks how adults' drinking habits and life circumstances relate to alcohol-related problems across different communities in the United States.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Public Health Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oakland, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 1981 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,659,046 |
| NIH project number | 5P50AA005595-45 |
| Project ID | NIH-11045606 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are U.S. adults aged 21 and older, including people from diverse communities and those who drink heavily or have experienced alcohol problems.
✕Less likely to help
People under 21 or those looking for immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to receive direct personal benefit from participating because the work produces population-level knowledge.
What this research studies
You might be invited to answer questions about your drinking, health, and background as part of a national survey repeated every few years. Researchers link survey answers to neighborhood and policy data to see how local context and life events shape alcohol problems. The Center focuses on both the general population and high-risk groups to spot differences by age, race, and other factors. Results are used to monitor trends and point to where prevention and services are most needed.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could guide public health policies and programs to better prevent and treat alcohol-related problems in communities most affected.
How similar studies have gone: Long-running national alcohol surveys have a strong track record of tracking trends and informing policy, so this approach is well established.
Where this research is happening
-
Public Health Institute
Oakland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kerr, William C. — Public Health Institute
- Study coordinator: Kerr, William C.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.