Alcoholism Research Promoted

A strong relationship between alcohol and social work research has been missing.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) is sponsoring a two-day workshop in April to teach social work researchers how to apply successfully for the agency's research grants.

Each of the 25 to 30 anticipated participants must submit a well-developed concept paper for a research project, a draft proposal or a retooled proposal that was rejected by NIAAA earlier. Participants must also make a commitment to be working on a NIAAA research proposal within 12 months of the workshop. About 50 percent of slots will be targeted to competitively selected minority candidates.

While NIAAA is interested in research on prevention, consideration will be given to topics on treatment intervention and basic behavioral research. Among topic areas NIAAA said would be interesting were: alcohol leading to violence; alcohol abuse and traffic accidents; worksite alcohol-related concerns; HIV/AIDS and alcohol; underage drinking; abusive drinking by college students; alcohol abuse and the aging population; cost-benefit studies; and adaptation of proven preventive strategies to ethnic and racial minority groups.

The deadline for workshop applications was Feb. 4. The Institute for the Advancement of Social Work Research alerted researchers in late 1999.

"There has not been a strong relationship between alcohol and social work research," said social worker Suzanne Heurtin-Roberts, program director for prevention research for special populations. She said she recently attended a conference on fetal alcohol syndrome that was attended by many sociologists, psychologists and physicians but by few social workers, although social workers will deliver the bulk of services.

"I think social work needs to be at the table to help influence the research agenda and the way policy is made, not just follow through on policy others have designed," said Heurtin-Roberts. "Otherwise, social workers will be doing treatment based on research by other people on concepts and policy formulated by others."

"The NIAAA research process is very difficult, peculiar and demanding," she said. "Anyone who applies needs all the help he or she can get. Social work is building its research capacity and needs some extra support."

Heurtin-Roberts said NIAAA has other plans to encourage social work participation in alcohol research, especially by minority researchers. "We have wanted an initiative to get social workers more involved in alcohol research for some time," she said.

Late last year NIAAA announced another program to assist in applying for NIAAA research grants. The Alcohol Research Mentoring System (ARMS) will recruit investigators not previously funded by NIAAA as candidates for mentor partnerships with experienced alcohol researchers.

The ARMS program will match the new investigators who wish to develop alcohol-focused research projects with senior NIAAA-funded researchers, who will serve as mentors. Participants will be expected to complete a rationale for a research proposal within three months of being assigned a mentor.

To be considered, candidates must submit brief concept papers that describe their research plans. Preference will be given to applications received before Feb. 15. Program participants will be mentored in all aspects of grant development. Mentorship services will be provided primarily by telephone, e-mail and fax, making it possible for experienced researchers to work with participants who live in other areas.

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