Recognizing the need to address the enormous problems caused by alcohol and drug abuse, the University of Washington established the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute in October of 1973 as an interdisciplinary research center in the Warren G. Magnuson Health Sciences Center. From its beginning, the mission of the Institute has been to conduct and support substance abuse research at the University of Washington, and disseminate research findings in substance abuse. The activities of the Institute may be described under three general headings:
- Intramural research by ADAI Research Scientists supported through federal, state, and other grants and contracts.
- Stimulation and support of alcohol and drug related research by faculty and researchers in departments throughout the University through a Small Grants Program. Since 1973, ADAI has awarded more than three million dollars to researchers in 40 University departments, for approximately 350 projects. Many of those funded projects led to outside funding for expanded research, bringing in tens of millions of research dollars to the University.
- Dissemination of research findings through its Library and Information Service, publications and presentations by ADAI scientists, numerous websites, news blogs, listservs, newsletters, conferences and symposia.
The Institute receives financial support from the State of Washington under state Initiative 171, which mandates that a portion of fees collected for certain state liquor licenses be allocated to the two state research universities for research on alcohol and drug abuse, and dissemination of research information. The University of Washington provides additional funding. Research studies are funded primarly through grants and contracts awarded by federal and state agencies, and private foundations.
The Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute serves as a focal point for alcohol and drug abuse research at the University of Washington and in the region, benefiting the citizens of Washington State by expanding our knowledge and making information available to health and social service professionals and policy makers. The Institute’s multidisciplinary staff of clinical and social psychologists, sociologists, epidemiologists, public health experts, educators, and librarians plays a key role in working to understand and reduce the harm caused by alcohol and drug abuse.