VCU Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies

12/13/2024

Holiday cheer and team appreciation! Check out the entries for the holiday door decorating contest!

10/17/2024

Great article on serving substance abuse communities mentioning the work of Dr. Caitlin Martin, an IDAS faculty member and researcher

Zhu, a student in the School of Medicine, hopes to use his research to spur changes in public policy and to save lives with more effective strategies for harm reduction.

10/02/2024

According to experts, the street supply of fentanyl is dropping...

Many addiction experts say the supply of street fentanyl in the U.S. is drying up -- a win in the fight against overdose deaths that many experts once viewed as unachievable.

09/25/2024

IDAS faculty member and Psychology professor, Dr Annie Haynos, will discuss the manifestations of disordered eating and the pathways to recovery.

Wednesday, Oct. 2 5:30 p.m. STEM Building, Rm. 202 817 W. Franklin Street, Richmond There's a pervasive myth that eating disorders affect only young white women when, in reality, these afflictions are not bound by gender, ethnicity, race, geography, culture or socioeconomic class. Join author and MF...

08/12/2024

The VCU Institute of Drug and Alcohol Studies is proud to be part of the Research-related Institutes and Centers (RICs) at VCU, which are instrumental in addressing society's most pressing challenges through multidisciplinary collaboration. Being included in the RICs underscores our commitment to advancing research that has a tangible impact on the world, and we look forward to contributing to VCU's growing reputation as a leader in innovative, cross-disciplinary research.

For more details, you can visit

The 17 universitywide Research-related Institutes and Centers are collaborative hubs that address society’s top challenges.

08/11/2024

Did you know that the stresses of deployments and the unique culture of the military offer both risks and protective factors related to substance use among active duty personnel? Find out more at https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/substance-use-military-life

Offers an overview of trends of drug use in the military and the special risks faced by this population.

08/04/2024

Why are drugs so hard to quit? People can heal from an addiction—especially when they get the support they need to relieve withdrawal symptoms, navigate triggers, and make positive changes. Find out more.

People can heal from an addiction—especially when they get the support they need to relieve withdrawal symptoms, navigate triggers, and make positive changes...

08/02/2024

About 17% of people 12 years old and older had a substance use disorder in 2023.

📊 : About 17% of people 12 years old and older had a substance use disorder in 2023.

Check out more important data in the 🆕 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) report ➡️ samhsa.gov/data/release/2023-national-survey-drug-use-and-health-nsduh-releases

08/02/2024

For some people who drink, it takes quite a few drinks to “get buzzed.” Over time, more and more alcohol is needed to become intoxicated. Contrary to what you may think, “holding your liquor” is a reason for concern.

08/02/2024

📚 Back-to-school season is here! Start the conversation with your kids about peer pressure and saying no to alcohol and other substances.

🔗 Make sure they have the tools they need by checking out the “How to Help Kids Say No to Peer Pressure” fact sheet from the “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign:

Share the “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign’s “Back to School: Peer Pressure” resource:https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/pep23-03-01-006.pdf

07/28/2024

So what is addiction? Addiction is a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences. The initial decision to take drugs is voluntary for most people, but repeated drug use can lead to brain changes that challenge an addicted person’s self-control and interfere with their ability to resist intense urges to take drugs. These brain changes can be persistent, which is why drug addiction is considered a "relapsing" disease—people in recovery from drug use disorders are at increased risk for returning to drug use even after years of not taking the drug.

Find out more at

Provides an overview of drug use and addiction, including what happens in the brain during drug use, why some people become addicted while others don't, and the importance of prevention.

07/17/2024