Alcoholism among college-aged individuals is still a topic of investigation at IU

Indianapolis, Indiana – Tuesday saw the continuation of research on binge drinking and other extreme drinking habits among college-age adults from the Indiana Alcohol Research Center.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, which has supported the center since its creation in 1987, will pay for the study with a five-year, $8.65 million grant.

The objective of the study and the Indiana Alcohol Research Center, which is based at the Indiana University School of Medicine, according to the researchers, is to investigate the behavioral and neurological dangers of alcoholism.

Researchers from various universities in Central Indiana and across a variety of fields are part of the team.

According to Dr. David Karaken, director of the Indiana Alcohol Research Institute and professor of neurology at the Indiana University School of Medicine, the grant will enable the institute to better study alcohol consumption from a variety of angles.

“We believe that our combined diverse methods and perspectives are best suited to studying a problem of both great importance and complexity,” Dr. Karaken said in a statement.

According to Dr. Cristine Czachowksi, a psychology professor at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis’ School of Science, the center allows for beneficial contacts between researchers from many fields.

“The crosstalk between many departments keeps us at the top of our game with regard to the latest findings and focused on the human experience of an alcohol use disorder,” Dr. Czachowski said in a statement.

Along with Drs. Czachowski and Karaken, Dr. Christopher Lapish is a professor of anatomy, cell biology, and physiology at the Indiana University School of Medicine. He says the team’s ultimate goal is to make more breakthroughs.

Dr. Lapish said in a statement, “Our ability to measure how brain function is altered in alcohol use disorder is rapidly improving. This is true for human and rodent models of the disorder. Our hope is that we can find similarities across the species, which, in turn, will facilitate new treatments.”

To spread knowledge about the science, prevention, and treatment of alcoholism, the researchers will also collaborate with the local population, educational institutions, healthcare professionals, and others.