Experienced investigators from the College of Natural Sciences, College of Liberal Arts, Cockrell School of Engineering, Dell Medical School, Hicks School of Social Work, and the College of Pharmacy explore alcohol and drug actions at the molecular, electrophysiological and behavioral levels. Collaborations with engineers and scientists who are not currently alcohol researchers allow the development of new tools and research approaches not possible in any one laboratory.

Substance use disorders produce enormous suffering and are caused by both environmental and genetic factors. The effects are felt worldwide, in all societies. Economic losses due to substance use disorders are greater than those caused by cancer, AIDS, or heart disease. Lost productivity, the burden on the health care system, and other factors caused by alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs are estimated to cost the U.S. $600 billion annually. The emotional stress on family members and friends of the afflicted is incalculable.

In 2017, there were an estimated 18.7 million people in the U.S. who suffered from a substance use disorder ¹. Among these, alcohol use disorder was the most common, afflicting 15.1 million people. Despite this high prevalence, federal support for research on alcohol use disorder is the lowest for any major public health problem. Research in this field has the potential to impact not only the lives of those afflicted, but also their family members - an estimated 126 million Americans.

Dramatic scientific advances over the past two decades have revolutionized our understanding of substance use disorders. Foremost among these developments is the clear understanding that these disorders are treatable diseases of the brain. The Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research was created to research these neurobehavioral disorders.

Progress in addiction research requires education and focused training of future scientists in state-of-the art approaches to the problem. Members are committed to this endeavor, developing new courses in the neurobiology of substance use disorders for undergraduate and graduate students. Additionally, the University has designated substantial endowment funds to train graduate students in this research field.

¹Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Admin., 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/nsduh/reports-detailed-tables-2017-NSDUH