The Century Council and the Emergency Medicine Foundation Announce Grantee to Head Groundbreaking Research Project
Groups to study role of emergency services with regard to college binge drinking
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Overconsumption of alcohol remains a major health and safety issue affecting college students on campuses across the nation. As part of a multi-faceted initiative designed to identify ways to significantly reduce college binge drinking, The Century Council, a not-for-profit organization funded by distillers dedicated to fighting drunk driving and underage drinking, provided a $100,000 research grant to the Emergency Medicine Foundation (EMF) to learn more about the role of emergency departments with regard to college binge drinking. Availability of this grant was announced to nationwide members of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) at their Scientific Assembly in October, 2009. Coinciding with Alcohol Awareness Month, both organizations are excited to announce the selection of Brian Suffoletto, MD, MS, from the University of Pittsburgh, as the grantee for this research project.
Dr. Suffoletto, a staff physician at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s UPMC Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and an assistant professor of emergency medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, has observed that binge drinking among college students frequently results in injury and in some cases, death. These cases can strain resources at the emergency department and substantially increase health care costs. His groundbreaking research project will examine the feasibility of using Ecological Momentary Assessments and Interventions (EMA&I), by means of mobile phone text messaging, as a way to further reduce risky drinking in college students.
The EMA&I approach allows practitioners to collect health behavior- related information and deliver treatment to people in their everyday lives (real time) and in natural settings (real world). The study will determine if EMA&I can be initiated at the emergency department as a means to collect useful information about college students’ alcohol drinking patterns and provide interventions that may alter their drinking behavior. “I have great interest in reducing injury associated with risky drinking as I lost a close friend as a result of drinking and driving my first year of college and have spent the last six years treating young adults that experience trauma as the result of risky drinking,” Dr. Suffoletto stated. “We will use The Century Council’s support primarily to hire staff to screen patients that present to the emergency department and to create an automated platform to collect drinking information and provide interventions to reduce risky drinking.”
Alexander Rosenau, DO, FACEP, Emergency Medicine Foundation Chair said, “The Emergency Medicine Foundation is pleased to partner with The Century Council on funding vital research in reducing binge drinking. Dr. Brian Suffoletto’s innovative project will provide research on new ways to provide intervention through technology, and that will translate into lives saved for teens and young adults. Congratulations to Dr. Suffoletto and the University of Pittsburgh.”
“The Century Council’s sponsorship of the 2009 American Advertising Federation-National Student Advertising Competition prompted the interest in learning the role emergency facilities may play in college communities. We are eager to see the results of Dr. Suffoletto’s research and believe it will only broaden the understanding of the cases that present themselves in the emergency room and thus provide valuable data to continue to develop effective programs at the college level to reduce binge drinking and overconsumption,” said Susan Molinari, Chairman of The Century Council.
For over a decade, The Century Council has been a leader in assisting colleges and universities with innovative strategies to combat overconsumption on campus. The Century Council has a number of ongoing efforts to address binge drinking from many angles. The Century Council has provided grants to four major Universities to implement and further explore potential effectiveness of student-generated campaigns dedicated to fighting binge drinking. Lastly, The Century Council has partnered with the Center for Leadership in Public Service at Fisher College to further explore the issue of college binge drinking from the perspective of campus law enforcement.
About The Century Council
The Century Council is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to fighting drunk driving and underage drinking and is funded by the following distillers: Bacardi U.S.A., Inc.; Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc.; Brown-Forman; Constellation Brands, Inc.; DIAGEO; Hood River Distillers, Inc.; Pernod Ricard USA; and Sidney Frank Importing Co., Inc. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia and chaired by Susan Molinari, The Century Council is a leader in the fight to eliminate drunk driving and underage drinking and promotes responsible decision making regarding beverage alcohol. The Century Council develops and implements innovative programs and public awareness campaigns and promotes action through strategic partnerships. Established in 1991, The Century Council’s initiatives are highlighted on its website at www.centurycouncil.org.
About The Emergency Medicine Foundation
The Emergency Medicine Foundation funds emergency medicine research and education. For more than 35 years, the Emergency Medicine Foundation has funded innovative clinical and laboratory research and continues to lead the way in emergency medicine education. To date, EMF has funded nearly $10 million in grants for these purposes. Established as a 501 (c) (3) charitable foundation in 1972, EMF demonstrates the distinctive specialty of emergency medicine through research and education. The Emergency Medicine Foundation’s administrative expenses are underwritten by the American College of Emergency Physicians, so every dollar donated goes directly to vital research. For more information, visit www.emfoundation.org.