Americans will spend half their lives taking prescription drugs, study finds
An American born in 2019 will spend a larger share of their lifetime taking prescription drugs than being married or receiving an education, according to new research by Jessica Ho, associate professor of sociology and demography at Penn State. She found that American males will spend approximately…
Storytelling saves lives: Reducing stigma is personal for Abington professor
Their personal and professional lives have placed Glenn Sterner and Erin Gallagher at the forefront of battling the stigma surrounding mental illness, substance use, addiction and vulnerable populations. The duo is the driving force behind the Oct. 12 performance of This Is My Brave-The Show at…
Consortium on Substance Use and Addiction Seeking Director Position Applications
The Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) is searching for a faculty member to lead the interdisciplinary Consortium on Substance Use and Addiction (CSUA). Applications for the position are open until October 1, 2023. For more information about the position, please visit CSUA’s website.
The…
Long-term study of early brain and child development launches enrollment
Penn State researchers are launching enrollment for the largest long-term study of early brain and child development in the U.S.
Penn State researchers aim to enroll 300 people, about 4% of the total cohort. The researchers will follow participants and their children from before birth through early…
Next-day effects of heavy drinking on young adults the focus of NIH grant
Nausea, headaches and difficulty concentrating are just a few of the hangover symptoms that can besiege young adults who drink alcohol to excess. To gain a greater understanding of how heavy drinking impacts young adults, Ashley Linden-Carmichael, Penn State associate research professor of health…
'Growing Impact' podcast examines effects of flooding on substance use, support
The latest episode of the "Growing Impact" podcast explores the world of substance use and addiction through the lens of environmental disasters. Social Science Research Institute cofund Kristina Brant and her team are investigating how flooding in rural areas can affect drug use and what support…
Max Crowley appointed new director of the Prevention Research Center
The College of Health and Human Development has announced that Max Crowley, professor of human development and family studies and public policy, has been appointed director of Penn State's Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center (PRC), beginning Aug. 15. Crowley succeeds Stephanie Lanza,…
Tobacco smoke exposure may increase heavy metal levels in children’s saliva
Secondhand tobacco smoke continues to be a major source of indoor air pollution that causes more than 41,000 nonsmoking adults to die every year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The exposure is even more dire for children, who can be more affected…
Race- and gender-specific interventions may lower drug overdose death rates
Interventions to address stimulant and opioid use that consider race and gender may prove more effective at preventing overdose deaths than current methods, according to a Penn State-led team of researchers who studied how drug treatment admissions and overdose deaths differed among race and gender…
Annual substance use conference examines stigma, opioid crisis
The Penn State Consortium on Substance Use and Addiction (CSUA) recently hosted its fourth annual conference in the HUB-Robeson Center at the University Park campus.
Drawing over 150 attendees throughout the day, including through the Zoom livestream, the conference kicked off with a welcome from…
Zgierska elected as Vice President to American Society of Addiction Medicine
Aleksandra Zgierska, MD, PhD, DFASAM, Jeanne L. and Thomas L. Leaman, MD, Endowed Professor and Vice Chair for Research at the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Penn State Hershey and Consortium on Substance Use and Addiction advisory board member, was recently elected as Vice…
Brothers receives Sociological Practice and Public Sociology Outstanding Publication Award
Sarah Brothers, assistant professor of sociology and public policy and SSRI co-funded faculty member through the Consortium on Substance Use and Addiction, was recently awarded the Sociological Practice and Public Sociology (SPPS) Outstanding Publication Award for The Methadone Manifesto: Treatment…
Women less likely to seek substance use treatment due to stigma, logistics
Fewer than 11% of women with a substance use disorder (SUD) received treatment in 2019 according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. New research from Penn State examined the barriers that women with SUDs reported that prevented them from seeking treatment. The…
Sterner is 2023 recipient of Emerging Faculty Award for Engaged Scholarship
Glenn Sterner III, assistant professor of criminal justice at Penn State Abington, has received the 2023 Outreach and Online Education Emerging Faculty Award for Engaged Scholarship.
The Emerging Faculty Outreach Award is a University-wide honor that recognizes early-career tenure-track and non-…
Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs Releases Report on Impact of Online Gambling in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP), Penn State, and the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) recently released the second annual report analyzing the impact of online gambling, also referred to as interactive gaming or iGaming in Pennsylvania.
“This report will…
Increases in opioid overdoses in Pennsylvania varied by county during the COVID-19 pandemic
The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work. It originally appeared in The Conversation and was written by Brian King, Andrea Rishworth, Louisa M. Holmes, and Ruchi Patel
The big idea
The COVID-19 pandemic intensified the opioid epidemic, according to our new research, which…
Prenatal cigarette, cannabis exposure may have associations with childhood obesity
Childhood obesity rates continue to rise in the United States, putting kids at risk for asthma, sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes, and other health conditions. Children prenatally exposed to both tobacco and cannabis had a 12 times higher risk for obesity by middle childhood (9–12 years of age) compared…
Personal connections matter to families taking care of kin during opioid crisis
For family members unexpectedly taking care of a relative’s child during the opioid crisis, it can be difficult to navigate the legal waters of assuming custody. The process may be easier — and come with more support — if these caregivers have personal connections to local resource institutions,…
CSUA Conference registration now open
SSRI’s Consortium on Substance Use and Addiction's annual conference will be held May 1, 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. in the HUB-Robeson Center. The conference is free, but registration is required. We encourage researchers, students, staff, and community members to attend. This event is in-person at the…
Penn State leads multi-state project to help prevent opioid misuse
Opioid use disorder continues to wreak havoc across the United States. Opioids were involved in more than 68,000 overdose deaths in 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Penn State recently received a $1.3 million, two-year grant from the Substance Use and Mental…
Piazza Center creates national hazing and dangerous drinking prevention study
The Timothy J. Piazza Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research and Reform is partnering with the WITH US Center for Bystander Intervention at California Polytechnic State University and the Gordie Center at the University of Virginia to determine best practices in hazing and substance misuse…
CSUA seed grants now open
SSRI's Consortium on Substance Use and Addiction (CSUA) invites proposals for Level 2 pilot research projects aimed at addressing issues related to substance use and addiction. We seek interdisciplinary Penn State teams to develop novel translational research programs, which can range from…
Bimodal intervention shows promise for intimate partner violence survivors
Black women involved in the legal system disproportionately experience intimate partner violence (IPV) but currently have few options for tailored interventions that consider intersectionality, according to a Penn State College of Education researcher.
Brandy Henry, assistant professor of education…
Sterner honored by Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health for work on opioid crisis, human trafficking
Glenn Sterner, a Social Science Research Institute co-funded faculty member through the Consortium on Substance Use and Addiction and assistant professor of criminal justice at Penn State Abington, received the 2022 Rural Health Hero of the Year Award by the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health for…
Can parents help prevent risky cannabis and alcohol use by college students?
Cannabis use by college students is on the rise, causing concern among substance-use experts. In 2020, 44% of college students reported using marijuana in the past year, compared to 38% in 2015, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Penn State researchers are testing an intervention…