Substance abuse is a national health problem that is estimated to cost the U. S. in excess of 100 billion dollars yearly for its pervasive effects. These costs include but are not limited to: substance abuse prevention and treatment services; adjudication, incarceration and supervision incurred by the criminal justice system.

These costs also include those related to other adverse health and occupational impacts from substance abuse caused, or related diseases such as AIDS, Hepatitis A, B. and C types; sexually transmitted diseases other than AIDS, effects on fetus and neonatal development caused by substance abusing mothers, recreational, industrial and motor vehicle accidents and other substance abuse related phenomena such as worker days lost and other productivity sensitive phenomena which negatively impact health care costs. Though substance abuse is a national health priority associated with multiple health risks including HIV/AIDS and STD transmission, violence and abuse, and motor vehicle and occupational accidents, UAB has only scattered treatment, prevention and research efforts to address this priority. Until the Consortium was established, UAB had no organized comprehensive program for research and training in substance abuse treatment and prevention.

The Consortium has supported development of a critical mass of substance abuse expertise at UAB. It has pooled faculty, treatment and research resources from Psychology, Medicine, Psychiatry, Pediatrics, and prevention expertise/resources from Epidemiology, Health Behavior, and Education, and provided opportunities for graduate research from Psychology, Sociology, Epidemiology, Education and Health Behavior. It has increased chances to attract NIDA funds for a Research and Training Center. It emphasized two areas consistent with current campus programs: school-based prevention, building on programs in Psychology, Pediatrics and counseling/prevention programs in the School of Education; and treatment and prevention among undeserved populations, building on clinical/research programs in Psychology, Medicine, Psychiatry, Preventive Medicine, and counselor training programs in Education.

In his new book Choice, Behavioural Economics and Addiction, Professor Rudy Vuchinich (Psychology), associate director of the medical psychology department, presents information by psychologists across the country about behavioral economics and addiction.        Click to Read More...

University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Psychology Professor Jesse B. Milby, Ph.D., ABPP, has received two grants totaling $8.5 million from the National Institute of Drug Abuse for two studies involving experimental, intensive day-treatment and training for homeless abusers of drugs and alcohol. Click to Read More...