VCU news

By Brian McNeill

Amelia Arria, Ph.D., director of the Center on Young Adult Health and Development at the University of Maryland School of Public Health, will speak at Virginia Commonwealth University about mental health and substance abuse among young people.

Arria, who is also an associate professor in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health at the University of Maryland, will speak at noon on Friday, March 30, at the Grace Street Theater, 934 W. Grace St.

Her talk, “Substance Use and Mental Health Among Young Adults: Contemporary Challenges and Opportunities,” will be free and open to the public. The lecture is part of the Distinguished Speaker Series of the Department of Psychology in the College of Humanities and Sciences.

A livestream of Arria’s presentation will be available at: mssvideo.vcu.edu/psych.

“There are numerous new challenges facing young adults — from increased availability of a wide array of psychoactive substances (e.g., more potent forms of marijuana, prescription drugs, energy drinks) to living in a 24/7 online world,” according to the lecture’s abstract. “What are the resulting health impacts on young adults? What questions need to be answered by rigorous research? And how can we ensure the evidence we generate from research has an impact on public understanding of these emerging health issues?”

Arria’s lecture will focus on answering these questions and generating ongoing dialogue among researchers, practitioners and educators.

Arria is a widely recognized expert in substance abuse and mental health. Her NIH-funded longitudinal prospective study of health-risk behaviors among college students has increased understanding of the mental health needs of young adults and the risk factors and consequences of substance use among college students.

A primary focus of her current research has been the impacts of untreated mental health conditions and substance use on human capital as measured by academic achievement, employment and health status. She is passionate about translating research findings for parents, policymakers and educational professionals.

Arria has a leadership role in the Maryland Collaborative to Reduce College Drinking and Related Problems, a policy initiative that brings together 14 universities in Maryland to address the problem of excessive alcohol consumption and related consequences on their campuses and in their communities.

She has authored more than 160 scientific peer-reviewed publications, numerous white papers and book chapters, and is the recipient of several major grant awards from foundations and state and federal agencies.

She received her training at Cornell University, the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health and the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.

A lunch of sandwiches and chips will be provided following Arria’s presentation.