Alcohol-related crashes continue to be a major public health problem resulting in over a half million injuries and $51 billion in losses each year. Unfortunately, despite renewed efforts, progress on this problem has been stalled for more than a decade. To resume progress, new strategies and policies are needed. The principal aim of this P20 is to form an Impaired-Driving Center (IDC) that brings together experts from different disciplines to produce a thorough and synergistic study of the existing impaired-driving prevention system. This will help to resume progress by (1) providing a comprehensive understanding of the impaired driving problem;(2) determining how the current system can be improved;and (3) developing new laws, policies, and measures to deal with the impaired-driving problems. The proposed IDC will be directed by Robert B. Voas. The plan for a 3-year effort will integrate currently separate programs funded from several sources to grow the IDC's capability in areas where programs are limited. The staffing plan for the IDC has been developed with two goals in mind: fostering interdisciplinary team work and providing for the development of midlevel and junior research staff into study directors for the P60 application. Three research domains within the impaired-driving field have been identified-reduction of high-risk drinking, deterrence of impaired driving, and reduction in DWI recidivism. Each will be subdivided into two research """"""""modules"""""""" that will be candidates for components in the future P60 application. Each module will be directed by a PI RE midlevel scientist who will be paired with a Senior Scientist with 20 to 40 years of experience in alcohol safety research. They will mentor the Module Directors, encourage communications between Module Directors and other IDC staff, and ensure that the IDC's work is progressing as planned. Also submitted for funding under this P20 grant are three preliminary/developmental studies that will lead to applications for full R01 grants to extend our effort to qualify for the P60 program. Public Health Relevance: Impaired driving is both a major public health problem and a major economic problem. Of greater concern is lack of progress in the last decade in reducing this serious problem that kills and maims more of our young people than the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan combined. This IDC will bring experts from different areas to search for new strategies to curb the problem.

Public Health Relevance

Impaired driving is both a major public health problem and a major economic problem. Of greater concern is lack of progress in the last decade in reducing this serious problem that kills and maims more of our young people than the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan combined. This IDC will bring experts from different areas to search for new strategies to curb the problem.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Exploratory Grants (P20)
Project #
1P20AA017831-01
Application #
7546796
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAA1-BB (80))
Program Officer
Hilton, Michael E
Project Start
2009-09-30
Project End
2011-08-31
Budget Start
2009-09-30
Budget End
2010-08-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$499,962
Indirect Cost
Name
Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation
Department
Type
DUNS #
021883350
City
Beltsville
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
20705
Scherer, Michael; Canham, Sarah; Voas, Robert B et al. (2018) Intercorrelation of Alcohol and Other Drug Use Disorders among a National Sample of Drivers. J Psychoactive Drugs 50:143-150
Torres, Pedro; Romano, Eduardo; Voas, Robert B et al. (2014) The relative risk of involvement in fatal crashes as a function of race/ethnicity and blood alcohol concentration. J Safety Res 48:95-101
Romano, Eduardo; Pollini, Robin A (2013) Patterns of drug use in fatal crashes. Addiction 108:1428-38
Voas, Robert B; Tippetts, Anthony S; Grosz, Milton (2013) Administrative reinstatement interlock programs: Florida, a 10-year study. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 37:1243-51
Voas, Robert B; Lacey, John H; Jones, Kristina et al. (2013) Drinking drivers and drug use on weekend nights in the United States. Drug Alcohol Depend 130:215-21
Voas, Robert B; Fell, James C (2013) Strengthening impaired-driving enforcement in the United States. Traffic Inj Prev 14:661-70
Scherer, Michael; Voas, Robert B; Furr-Holden, Debra (2013) Marijuana as a predictor of concurrent substance use among motor vehicle operators. J Psychoactive Drugs 45:211-7
Voas, Robert B; Torres, Pedro; Romano, Eduardo et al. (2012) Alcohol-related risk of driver fatalities: an update using 2007 data. J Stud Alcohol Drugs 73:341-50
Romano, Eduardo; Kelley-Baker, Tara; Lacey, John (2012) Passengers of impaired drivers. J Safety Res 43:163-70
Voas, Robert B; Fell, James C (2012) Commentary on Fitzpatrick and colleagues (2012): Forecasting the effect of the amethyst initiative on college drinking. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 36:1479-82

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