110th Congress

Redesignation of Institute Names

H.R. 1348/S. 1011

Background

In 1970, the “Hughes Act” established the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), which subsequently became an Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a result of the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration Reorganization Act of 1992. NIAAA conducts and supports biomedical and behavioral research with respect to the health, social, and economic consequences of alcohol use. It also funds research on the prevention of harmful drinking patterns and the treatment of alcoholism. NIAAA research includes a focus on the beneficial effects of moderate alcohol consumption for some people as well as the negative effects of excessive alcohol use and alcoholism. We now know that alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence (i.e., alcoholism) are not separate diagnostic categories, but instead exist along a single continuum of alcohol disorders associated with increased frequency of a harmful drinking pattern.

Initially established in 1974, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) became an NIH Institute in 1992. NIDA conducts and funds cutting-edge research to improve our national health and well-being by reducing the burden of drug use and addiction on individuals and society as a whole. In addition, NIDA emphasizes addiction as a preventable and treatable disease, working to remove the stigma associated with addiction and underscore that diseases of addiction are critical national health issues.

Two bills have been introduced in the 110th Congress that would recognize addiction as a preventable and treatable neurobiological disease and better identify the role and mission of NIAAA and NIDA. The legislation would change the name of NIAAA to the National Institute on Alcohol Disorders and Health and the name of NIDA to the National Institute on Diseases of Addiction.

These changes would remove the pejorative term “abuse” from the names of the Institutes and link the concepts of addiction and disease in order to diminish the social stigma, discrimination, and personal shame that are often barriers to seeking treatment.

Provisions of the Legislation/Impact on NIH

H.R. 1348 and S. 1011 would amend the Public Health Service Act and related enactments to redesignate NIAAA as the National Institute on Alcohol Disorders and Health and NIDA as the National Institute on Diseases of Addiction. Despite the proposed name changes, the mission of NIAAA and NIDA would remain the same.

Status and Outlook

H.R. 1348, the NIDA and NIAAA Name Redesignation Act, was introduced by Representative Patrick J. Kennedy (D-RI) on March 6, 2007, and was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. No further action has occurred on this legislation.

S. 1011, the Recognizing Addiction as a Disease Act of 2007, was introduced by Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE) on March 28, 2007, and was referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. No further action has occurred on this legislation.