National Research Support is Needed
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) 16.6 million adults in the United States have an alcohol use disorder1. It is also estimated that alcohol misuse cost the U.S. economy $249 billion annually and results in 88,000 deaths each year2.
During the past 10 years funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has been reduced by almost 25%3.
As a result the ability of research programs like ours to conduct important ground breaking scientific experiments and make new discoveries that will benefit society is also greatly affected.
The annual budget for the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) for FY19 is just $525.6 million4.
In comparison to other government spending initiatives the total annual budget of the NIAAA would purchase just 6 F-35 Lightning II Combat Aircraft or cover .56% of the cost for a new Stealth B-2 Bomber.
The U.S. Surgeon General estimates that 1 out of 7 people in the United States will develop a substance use disorder5, and as funding from the NIH becomes harder to acquire, there is now a desperate need to help support research to uncover new ways to combat substance abuse. There were over 54,000 competing research projects grant applications, but the success rate for these grants is just 18.7%6 far below the 30% rates seen in years past.
Research Support is Needed for Our Family Studies
Moving forward support is urgently needed to find ways to prevent inner-generational transmission of alcohol use disorders and to keep our family studies going to determine what factors contribute or protect individuals from developing addiction.
Making a Donation
Donations for the Behavioral Genetics Research Program are processed through the University of Pittsburgh. Department of Psychiatry, Office of Grants and Contracts.
To make a donation to the Behavioral Genetics Research Program please make out a check to the “University of Pittsburgh” and write a letter stating that your check is intended as a donation.
Checks and letters should be sent to:
ATTN: Tom Berkhoudt
Office of Grants and Contracts
200 Meyran Avenue
Parkvale Building, Room 507
Pittsburgh, PA 15213