Overview

Founded in 2004, the University of Florida's Addictive & Health Behaviors (AHB) Research Institute is located in Jacksonville, Florida, and is affiliated with the Department of Health Education & Behavior, College of Health and Human Performance. The AHB Research Institute is directed by Dr. Chad Werch, Ph.D., and employs over twenty-five Research Coordinators and Assistants, Research Communications Specialists, Trained Health Behavior Interventionists, and Collaborating Research Scientists. During its brief existence, the Institute has been awarded over $4 million in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding to conduct research examining strategies to prevent harm and promote health among adolescents and young adults, and is poised to receive significant additional NIH funding to develop and test efficacious health behavior interventions for youth. Since its inception, the AHB Research Institute has co-hosted two annual Symposia on Addictive & Health Behaviors Research, along with Mayo Clinic and the University of North Florida, providing a forum for the multi-disciplinary exchange of both scientific and application knowledge in health behavior intervention. The 3rd Symposium on Addictive & Health Behaviors Research, to be held at Amelia Island, Florida, is the first to be open to national participation and is co-hosted by The American Academy of Health Behavior. The Institute also provides Graduate Student Fellowships and Post-Doctoral Appointments in health behavior and prevention intervention research.


Background

Addictive behaviors cause most of the nation's premature and preventable morbidity, mortality, and injury. These health risk behaviors include alcohol and alcoholism, smoking and nicotine addiction, drug use and misuse, eating disorders, and compulsive behaviors (e.g., gambling). Meanwhile, other health behaviors, such as participating in regular physical activity, eating nutritious foods, managing stress, obtaining adequate sleep, and setting personal growth goals, are known to be critical to longevity and quality of life of individuals and populations. Lacking are cost-effective, efficacious, and easily adaptable interventions to protect those most vulnerable to harm caused by addictive and other health-damaging behaviors, while promoting their overall well-being and development.


Mission

The mission of the Addictive & Health Behaviors (AHB) Research Institute is to develop efficacious strategies for preventing harm and promoting health among vulnerable populations such as children, adolescents, and young adults. Vulnerable populations are defined as those who are at exceptionally high-risk for suffering from addictive and other health-damaging behaviors.


Aims

The primary aim of the Addictive & Health Behaviors Research Institute is to conduct research evaluating addictive and health behavior change strategies. The secondary aim is to provide addictive and health behaviors intervention research training and education.


Activities

Major activities of the AHB Research Institute include:

  1. Implementing externally funded prevention and intervention research trials

  2. Providing Graduate Student Fellowships, Internships, and Post-Doctoral Appointments in health behavior and prevention intervention research


  3. Hosting the Symposium on Addictive & Health Behaviors Research


Directions

Directions from Gainesville, Florida:

  1. Head east on University Ave (SR-20)
  2. Turn Left on NE Waldo Rd (SR-24 E)
  3. Continue to follow SR-24 E
  4. Continue on US-301 N
  5. Take Ramp onto I-10 E
  6. Take the Jax Beaches/Daytona Beach exit onto I-95 S
  7. Take exit #344/Butler Blvd./Jax Beaches toward SR-202 E
  8. Bear Left on J Turner Butler Blvd (SR-202 E)
  9. Take ramp onto Belfort Rd toward Belfort Rd South
  10. Turn Left on Belfort Parkway
  11. Turn Right at the first building on the right

Directions from Downtown Jacksonville:

  1. Head south on Main Street (US-1 S)
  2. Bear Right on S Main Street
  3. Take ramp onto US-1 S toward I-95 S
  4. Take the I-95 S exit onto I-95 S
  5. Take exit #344/Butler Blvd/Jax Beaches toward SR-202 E
  6. Bear Left on J Turner Butler Blvd(SR-202 E)
  7. Take ramp onto Belfort Rd toward Belfort Rd South
  8. Turn Left on Belfort Pkwy
  9. Turn Right at the first building on the right

Directions from Jacksonville Beach:

  1. Head west on J Turner Butler Blvd/SR-202
  2. Take the Belfort Rd/Salisbury Rd exit
  3. Turn Left on Belfort Road
  4. Turn Left on Belfort Parkway
  5. Turn Right at the first building on the right