What's New

STOP Act Report to Congress Stakeholder Meeting for Public Comment

Interested parties are invited to attend a virtual STOP Act Stakeholder Meeting for Public Comment on August 7, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM ET, hosted by the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD). The agenda for this meeting will include an overview of the state of underage drinking in America, an overview of the 2023 ICCPUD Comprehensive Plan, discussion of the 2023 reports, and an update on ICCPUD community engagement activities and information on the ongoing Alcohol Intake and Health Study. We look forward to your participation in this important meeting.  Please register to attend the meeting via Zoom here.

NIAAA Spectrum Highlights Digital Health Interventions Addressing Drinking Among Youth

The Spring 2024 edition of the NIAAA Spectrum shared recent research exploring the use of Internet and mobile technologies—including social media—to prevent alcohol misuse among youth. NIAAA-supported research shows that participants receiving telehealth sessions and text messages, delivered as digital “boosters” to the in-person Saferteens intervention, reduced their alcohol consumption, involvement with violence, and consequences associated with alcohol use and violence over the course of the study. Another researcher is exploring the relationship between social media and alcohol consumption, including how social media holds promise for addressing alcohol misuse among college students. To learn more about this and related research, watch the NIAAA webinar held in December 2023, “Harnessing Technology and Social Media to Address Alcohol Misuse in Adolescents and Emerging Adults.”

McGruff the Crime Dog Takes a Bite Out of Fake Pills

As part of the Go For Real Campaign™, produced by the National Crime Prevention Council and the United States Patent and Trademark Office, McGruff the Crime Dog® is spreading awareness of the dangers of fake pills and other counterfeits. The “McGruff Stops Big Crime” PSA asks questions including: “Should buying prescription pills be this easy? Think these pills are tested and safe? Think they’re the same ones you get from a doctor? Did you know fake prescription pills may contain fentanyl, and the amount small enough to fit on the tip of a pencil can be lethal?” View the PSA and learn more about the campaign at https://www.ncpc.org/goforreal.

Short Takes with NIAAA: What Are the Dangers of Underage Drinking?

This NIAAA video discusses the short- and long-term harmful effects of underage drinking, and how parents and other adults can help. At only 1 minute long, the easily shareable video presents facts about the effects of underage drinking, including harms and increased risk of problems with alcohol, other substances, and mental health issues. The video also emphasizes that parents and caregivers can shape youth attitudes toward alcohol. Head to NIAAA’s Underage Drinking web page to access more resources on this topic, including “Get the Facts About Underage Drinking” and “Alcohol and the Adolescent Brain.”