PIRE - Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation



	PIRE Spotlight Archive


	John Lacey receives the James J. Howard Highway Safety Trailblazer Award The James J. Howard Highway Safety Award, the Governors Highway Safety Association’s most prestigious award, was awarded to John Lacey, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE) Center Director. Mr. Lacey has worked as a "trailblazer" for over 40 years implementing programs, evaluating projects, and working on policy advocacy. More

	Friends Don't Let Problem Drinkers Drink "Friends don't let friends drive drunk!" We all know that campaign, but researchers have given us a new message about the role of friends and drinking: Friends don't let problem drinkers drink. More

	Drinking and driving risk increases for young women, study finds "Young women who drink and drive may be behaving more like young men who drink and drive," said study researcher Robert B. Voas. Eduardo Romano of the Impaired Driving Center at the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation and coauthor of the report, says cultural changes since 1996 are likely to blame for the rise in fatal accidents. More

	Examining Human Rights and Mental Health Among Women in Drug Abuse Treatment Centers in Afghanistan Denial of human rights, gender disparities, and living in a war zone can be associated with severe depression and poor social functioning, especially for female drug abusers. This study of Afghan women in drug abuse treatment (DAT) centers assesses (a) the extent to which these women have experienced human rights violations and mental health problems prior to entering the DAT centers, and (b) whether there are specific risk factors for human rights violations among this population. More

	Density of neighbourhood bars is linked to intimate partner violence-related visits to the emergency department Intimate partner violence (IPV) has been linked to heavy drinking, and alcohol outlet density to violence. A new study looks at links between alcohol outlet densities and IPV-related Emergency Department (ED) visits. More

	Mixed Use Zoning: Laying the Groundwork for Walkability A recent PIRE study presented at the American Public Health Association’s 2011 Annual Meeting offers evidence that comprehensive municipal mixed use land zoning ordinances (MUZs) are significantly related to the presence of the daily use activities that heighten neighborhood walkability. More

	The White House Emphasizes PIRE’s Safer California Universities Project, conducted by Dr. Robert Saltz During National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, President Obama is emphasizing the importance of providing a strong support system for our children, as well as the need to educate them about the dangers of alcohol and other drugs. He also acknowledges those who are dedicated to preventing substance abuse. One important tool in the fight against substance abuse, is emphasized on the White House website -- the Safer California Universities Project. http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/10/14/prevention-college-level More

	Alcohol Consumption Greatly Increases Serious Injury Risk for Heavy and Moderate Drinkers A new study has investigated the linkages between alcohol consumption and hospitalized injury. Heavy drinkers face higher injury risks than most people when sober; conversely, their injury risk rises less when alcohol positive. Moderate drinkers who occasionally drink to excess suffer more injuries than heavy drinkers per alcohol-positive hour. More

	PIRE Researcher Receives Best Scientific Paper Award James C. Fell, a Senior Program Director at the Pacific Institute for Research & Evaluation (PIRE) in Calverton, Maryland, was presented with the “Best Scientific Paper Award” for 2010 by the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM) at their 55th Annual Scientific Meeting in Paris, France, on October 4, 2011. More

	Drug Use Tied to Fatal Car Crashes There is a growing interest to understand the role drugs may have on crash involvement. In a new study reported in the July issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, Eduardo Romano and Bob Voas from ALPS and the Impaired Driving Center, estimated that of all U.S. drivers who died in a single-vehicle crash, about 25% tested positive for drugs. More

	Focusing on School Attendance Reduces HIV Risk Among Orphaned Teens The National Institute of Mental Health recently highlighted PIRE research in their "Science News." The research, conducted by Denise Hallfors (PI) and Hyunsan Cho (Co-I), suggests that a comprehensive school support program effectively reduced risk factors associated with infection with HIV among teens who lost one or both parents. More

	An Evaluation of Three Intensive Supervision Programs for Serious DWI Offenders An article describing a study of three intensive supervision programs conducted by James Fell, Scott McKnight and Scott Tippetts of PIRE along with Connie Wiliszowski of Bedford Research and DeCarlo Ciccel of the sponsoring agency, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), was awarded “Best Paper” by the Scientific Program Committee of the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM) in 2010. More

	PIRE Completes One of the First Evaluations of DUI Courts Jim Fell and Scott Tippetts of ALPS, along with Liz Langston (formerly of PIRE) completed one of the first evaluations of Driving-Under-the-Influence (DUI) courts in a study sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). While there are currently hundreds of DUI courts in the United States, very few have been evaluated for their effectiveness. More

	Pennsylvania Debates State Control of Liquor Sales Dr. Ted Miller testified before the Pennsylvania Senate Law and Justice Committee to assist weighing pros and cons over whether to privatize state run liquor stores. More

	PIRE Research Scientist, Dr. Stephen Kennedy, presented the commencement address to the Phebe-Para Medical Institute graduating class. After three years of intensive studies, 96 students graduated from Phebe-Para Medical Institute in Suakoko, Bong County, Liberia on February 5, 2011. More

	Primary Laws and Fine Levels Are Associated With Increases in Seat Belt Use, 1997–2008 U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood released research showing states have an increased usage of seatbelts when they toughen seat belt laws and increase fines for unbuckled motorists. More

	Campus-Community Interventions Successful in Reducing College Drinking In a new study published in the December issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, researchers, led by Robert Saltz, focus on the Safer interventions program to study community-wide prevention to heavy drinking among college students. More

	Study: Number of Women Considered Binge Drinkers Increasing A new study looking at 20 years of drinking trends shows binge drinking is up, particularly among white women. More

	Bob Voas and Raul Caetano Speak at NIAAA 40th Anniversary Symposium The NIAAA 40th Anniversary Symposium was held on October 4, 2010. Among the eight speakers chosen for this prestigious occasion were Bob Voas, PhD., Senior Research Scientist (ALPS) speaking on “Preventing Alcohol-Related Problems Through Health Policy Research,” co-authored by Jim Fell (ALPS), and Raul Caetano, Vice Chair of the PIRE Board, who spoke about “Drinking, Binge Drinking, and Associated Consequences Among U.S. Ethnic Minorities.” Dr. Caetano, MD, MPH, PhD., is Dean of the University of Texas Southwestern Allied Health Sciences School and Regional Dean of the Dallas Regional Campus. More

	New CDC Study Finds Annual Cost of Motor Vehicle Crashes Exceeds $99 Billion The CDC issued a press release on August 25, 2010 on the annual cost of motor vehicle crashes. The press release refers to the research study in Traffic Injury Prevention 2010; 11(4):353-360, conducted by Naumann RB, Dellinger AM, and PIRE researchers Zaloshnja E, Lawrence BA, and Miller TR. More

	Virginia ponders losing ABC stores; studies conflict on privatizing liquor sales On August 29, 2010, The Washington Post included input from PIRE Researcher, Ted Miller, Ph.D., in an article that weighs whether to privatize state-owned liquor stores. More

	Faye J. Calhoun, D.P.S., M.S., Elected to Chair Board of Directors of the National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACoA) The National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACoA) announced today that Faye J. Calhoun, D.P.S., has become Chairman of NACoA’s Board of Directors. More

	Should We BAC Down? Drunk driving doesn't grab our attention like the oil slick, perhaps because the damage comes in a steady drip instead of (literally) one big gusher. But the costs we pay for the interaction between alcohol and driving are large, in terms of lives lost, medical care, property damage, enforcement, and more. More

	APIS Announces New Website Design: Easier Access to High-Quality State-by-State Alcohol Policies Data The Alcohol Policy Information System (APIS), a project by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, announces a new, user-friendly Web site. Users will find the same reliable APIS information in a fresh, streamlined design that simplifies access to APIS data More

	Repealing the Drinking Age of 21 Would Be a Grave Mistake In the January 2010 issue of the Newsletter of the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), PIRE’s Jim Fell debated John McCardell on the drinking age issue. McCardell wants the drinking age lowered to 18 while Jim defends the current drinking age of 21. More

	Fifteen Studies Assess Legal Approaches to a Healthy Population PIRE staff members from Felton, CA have been awarded one of fifteen grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s new Public Health Law Research Program. The grant assesses the effects of mixed land use zones designed to shorten distances among home, work or school, shopping, and recreation on leading public health indicators. More

	APIS Announces Update of Alcohol Policy Information: New Resource Available on State Underage Drinking Policies The Alcohol Policy Information System (APIS), a project of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, announces its latest update of state-by-state alcohol policies. More

	Impact of Alcohol Messages in a Youth-Oriented Television Series Researchers Find Influence of Messages Depend on Several Factors A new study finds that the effect of alcohol messages in a youth-oriented television series depends on how connected the viewer is with the program as well as the ways in which alcohol messages are conveyed in the program. More

	Consumer Reactions to Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives Researchers Find Self-Interest Drives Responses New research examines how consumers respond to corporate Social responsibility efforts. Findings from this research indicate that corporate responsibility efforts are most effective when they appeal to consumers’ self interest and sense of identity. More

	On a Crash Course: The Dangers and Health Costs of Deficient Roadways A new study finds that crashes involving deficient road conditions cost $217 billion in 2006. The costs of these crashes exceed the costs of crashes involving impaired driving, speeding, or not buckling up. Deficient road conditions cause ten crashes a minute or worsen their outcomes. They contribute to more than half of all roadway deaths. Large trees, unyielding poles, and bridges are the largest culprits. The report also provides cost estimates by state. http://www.pire.org/documents/PireStudyLowRes.pdf More

	Biological Markers Used to Detect Drug Use in Club Settings Clubs Vary Widely in Drug User Prevalence at Entrance and Exit A new study reveals that clubs featuring electronic music dance events vary widely in drug-user prevalence at entrance and exit, suggesting that club policies and/or practices may attract different types of patrons. Research scientists utilized innovative biological markers to determine alcohol and drug use. More

	Family Day: A Day to Eat Dinner With Your Children Pacific Institute is joining families, faith-based organizations, elected officials, Major League Baseball teams and corporations and non-profits across the country by gearing up to celebrate the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University's Family Day - A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children™ Sponsored by Stouffer's on September 28, 2009. More

	Prevention Program Launched in Liberia to Reduce HIV/AIDS Study Evaluates Effectiveness of HIV Prevention Program A two year study has commenced in Liberia to adapt and evaluate the effectiveness of a HIV prevention curriculum for 6th and 7th grade in-school Liberian youth. One of the goals of the study is to build the capacity of Liberian research institutions and thus encourage sustainable development. More

	Stronger Tobacco Control Policies Would Save Thousands of Lives States with Effective Tobacco Control Policies Impact Smoking Rates A new study found that raising the state tobacco tax, implementing comprehensive smoke-free policies throughout the state, running well-funded, sustained media campaigns, and providing all smokers access to smoking cessation treatments would have the greatest immediate impact on reducing deaths caused by smoking. More

	Murder rate cut in half when bars close early Researchers estimate more than 200 lives have been saved After years of staying open around the clock, nightclubs and bars began closing at 11 p.m. and in just two years, homicides in this Brazilian town outside of Sao Paolo dropped from an average of 22 a month to 12. This new study examines the changes that affected the decline in murders as well as other alcohol-control policies. More

	Cultural stereotypes hinder Latino access to care Drug, alcohol abuse treatment providers show bias toward Hispanics A new study found behavioral health care providers need to better understand their own cultural stereotypes regarding Hispanics in order to improve access to care for Latino youth. Researchers interviewed mental health care clinicians and found providers' views of culture can affect the provision of services. More

	Engaged residents reduce alcohol-related crime in neighborhoods Community involvement with enforcement efforts leads to drop in assaults, DUIs When bars and liquor stores changed their alcohol sales and service practices, alcohol-involved problems dropped substantially. This was with the backing of community groups and law enforcement. A new study highlights the success of this program in Sacramento in two low-income, ethnic minority communities with high rates of crime. More

	Parents: Think twice before hosting underage drinking house party Towns across the country pass laws holding adults accountable for teen drinking Out-of-control teen house parties may become a thing of the past as communities enact social host ordinances that enable law enforcement to fine parents and other adults up to $2,500 in some instances for underage drinking on their property. More

	Treatment or lock-up for pregnant women who abuse alcohol? Women legislators tend to favor treatment A new study found states with few women lawmakers are more likely to adopt punitive laws for pregnant women who abuse alcohol. This scenario can have harmful long-term effects not only for the would-be mother, but the fetuses these laws are trying to protect. More

	Blacks at greater risk for HIV/AIDS Even with safe-sex practices risk higher than whites New study of 8,000 young people found blacks between 18-26 years old, despite having fewer sex partners and engaging in safe behaviors are seven times more likely to be infected with an STD than whites with the same behaviors. More

	New teen risk behavior uncovered Teens exchanging sex for drugs or money A first of its kind study has found 650,000 Middle and High School students have exchanged sex for drugs or money at least once. Researchers also found up to 20 percent of those have been told they have HIV or another sexually transmitted infection. More

	12-step programs benefit diverse groups after treatment Gender, religion and mental illness are not barriers A three-year study shows that Alcoholics Anonymous and other mutual-help groups seem to help people recover from alcoholism no matter what their religious beliefs and gender, or whether or not they have mental disorders. More

	New technology can prevent drunken driving Roadblocks remain but courts unwilling to use them Anti-drunk driving technology could become a major factor in reducing the 13,000 deaths and half-million injuries caused by drunk driving crashes each year - but only if courts start widely using these proven devices. More

	Blood alcohol driving limits vary worldwide U.S. sets standard at .08, but many countries move to .05 and even .02 A new study on blood alcohol concentrations reveals reasons why many industrialized nations around the globe are lowering limits, including some to as low as .02. PIRE researchers found clear evidence that lowering the legal BAC is effective in reducing deaths and injuries from drunk drinking. More

	Presidential award for PIRE scientist Among first recognized for 'environmental' solutions The White House science policy office bestowed its prestigious Early Career Award on Debra Furr-Holden, Ph.D., for her project to investigate violence, alcohol and other drug problems in inner-city neighborhoods and develop environmental strategies to reduce such problems. Read her article on environmental strategies from the Baltimore Sun. More

	Violence impact differs between bars, other alcohol outlets In some neighborhoods, density of bars doesn't increase violence Stores that sell alcohol magnify violence problems in all neighborhoods where they're concentrated. But the density of bars intensifies violence only in communities prone to violence, while moderating violence in quieter neighborhoods, according to a new PIRE study. More

	Rap listeners prone to alcohol, drugs and violence Study raises questions about alcohol industry marketing through hip hop A survey of more than 1,000 community college students found that rap and hip hop listeners were more likely to abuse alcohol and illegal drugs and to engage in aggressive behavior when compared to listeners of other types of music. Rap and hip hop music are regularly used for alcohol advertising. More

	"There's no benefit to lowering the drinking age" From the Christian Science Monitor… Arguments against the 21 minimum legal drinking age don't stack up against decades of prevention research, writes PIRE senior researcher Robert Voas in an opinion page article. More

	Teens don't self-medicate depression Instead, alcohol, drugs and sex lead to depressed feelings in adolescents Longitudinal study of 13,500 teens finds that widely held beliefs about self-medication may be wrong, according to PIRE senior researcher Denise Hallfors. More

	Comprehensive DWI sentencing guide published Everything you need to know about legal interventions for driving while intoxicated can be found in this guide published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. DWI is also known as DUI (driving under the influence) and OWI (operating while intoxicated) in various jurisdictions. More

	Research pushes 'Alcopops' policy change California and other states consider changing the designation of alcopops from beer to distilled spirits following PIRE findings. That could dramatically reduce access by minors, saysJames Mosher, Director of PIRE's Center for the Study of Law and Enforcement Policy. The change would be appropriate because most of the alcoholic content of these drinks comes from distilled spirits rather than the malt used for beer. More

	"Prevention in the home works for children of tobacco users" Parents who can't quit smoking can still prevent their kids from smoking. A three-year PIRE study found that kids whose parents smoke were half as likely to try cigarettes if their parents instituted an anti-smoking program. Parents, not peers, are the primary socializing influences during the childhood years, particularly about personal activities such as tobacco use, says PIRE senior researcher Christine Jackson. More

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