NIH 1998 Almanac/The Organization/NIAAA/
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism : Mission
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) is responsible for
research on the causes, consequences, treatment, and prevention of alcohol-related
problems. NIAAA conducts and supports biomedical and behavioral research into the effects
of alcohol on the human mind and body, prevention and treatment of alcohol abuse and
alcoholism, and epidemiology of alcoholism and alcohol-related problems. In carrying out
these responsibilities, the institute:
- Conducts and supports basic and biobe-havioral research aimed at determining the
causes of alcoholism, discovering how alcohol damages the organs of the body, and
developing prevention and treatment strategies for application in the Nation’s health
care system;
- Serves as a national resource for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of
scientific findings;
- Supports training and development of scientists for participation in alcohol research
programs and activities;
- Conducts policy studies that have broad implications for alcohol problem prevention,
treatment, and rehabilitation activities; and
- Conducts epidemiological studies as well as national and community surveys to assess
the risks for and magnitude of alcohol-related problems among various population groups.
