Fall Lecture Series Looks at Human Costs of Drinking

By now, most people on campus know that UW–Madison is notorious for heavy drinking in a state that ranks as one of the heaviest drinking states in the nation. A colloquium series this fall, put together by Child and Family Studies, will focus attention on drinking and its implications for human development and family relationships.

How does parental drinking effect child outcomes? What aspects of marital and family functioning are compromised when an individual drinks heavily? What factors trigger and support heavy drinking? How can problem drinking be prevented? Over the course of the fall semester, UW–Madison faculty and visiting scholars will present current research addressing these and related questions.

Topics of the weekly colloquia include:

• “Binge Drinking and Student Culture at UW–Madison,” Aaron Brower, social work and Richard Keeling, University Health Services (Oct. 17)
• “Alcohol Use and Marital Aggression,” Kenneth Leonard, Research Institute on Addictions, Buffalo, N.Y. (Oct. 24)
• “Prevention of Drug and Alcohol Abuse: A Randomized Trial of the Families and Schools Together (FAST) Program,” Paul Moberg, Center for Health Policy and Program Evaluation (Nov. 14)
• “Are Parents Aware of Their Adolescents’ Drinking and Does It Matter?”, Karen Bogenschneider, child and family studies (Nov. 21)
• “The Impact of Parental Alcoholism on Infant Development,” Rina Das Eiden, Research Institute on Addictions, Buffalo, N.Y. (Dec. 5)

The lecture series is sponsored by the Department of Child and Family Studies, The School of Human Ecology, the Center for Family Excellence and the Center for Addictions Research and Education. All lectures will be held on Fridays at noon in Room 178 in the School of Human Ecology, 1300 Linden Drive. Feel free to bring a bag lunch, beverages will be provided.