Alcohol

Ethnic pride may help protect Latino/a college students from problem drinking

Negative consequences from excessive drinking are well-documented, but little is known about how to tailor interventions to prevent problem drinking by Latino/a college students, the fastest-growing ethnic minority group on U.S. college campuses. A new study led by Katja Waldron, doctoral candidate…

Can wearable technology predict the negative consequences of drinking?

“How much have you had to drink?” might seem like a simple question, but it is not always easy to answer. Although there are general guidelines about responsible alcohol consumption, a person’s level of intoxication depends not only on the number of drinks they consume but also on the alcohol…

Are more parents letting their teens drink during the pandemic?

COVID-19 stay-at-home orders during spring 2020 dramatically changed daily life and created significant challenges for families. A new study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health found that 1 in 6 parents first allowed their adolescent children to have an alcoholic drink with their families…

Turrisi advises parents in a new video series about teen alcohol use

Parents with questions about how to protect their teens from the dangers of alcohol and other drugs can now receive research-based advice from videos featuring Robert Turrisi, a Penn State professor of biobehavioral health with more than 35 years of experience in researching underage drinking.…

Marijuana may boost risky effects of drinking alcohol

As the legalization of medical marijuana and marijuana use are both on the rise in the United States, people are not necessarily using alcohol less and may be unaware of the risks of combining alcohol and marijuana, according to researchers. A new study from Penn State found that compared to people…

Course on addiction and recovery offered Fall 2019

An opportunity to obtain a Certified Recovery Specialist (CRS) certification, a Certified Family Recovery Specialist (CFRS) certification, or a better understanding of addiction and recovery, is available for Penn State students this fall. Curriculum & Instruction 497 is a 4-credit course that…

A close watch: IST seed grant funds study to assess and predict substance co-use

A technology-based intervention that could reduce the risk of young adults simultaneously using alcohol and marijuana may soon be as close as a user’s wrist, thanks to a new study launched by researchers at Penn State. The team recently earned a seed grant from the College of Information Sciences…

The five types of problem drinking are more common at different ages

Alcohol abuse is more complicated than simply drinking too much. There may be five separate types of problem drinkers, according to Penn State researchers, and each one may be more common at different stages of life. In a study, Penn State researchers discovered five distinct classes or “profiles”…