Professor of Psychology at the University of Michigan
Position:
Con to the question "Should the Drinking Age Be Lowered from 21 to a Younger Age?"
Reasoning:
"One of the most successful interventions has been the adoption of age 21 as the legal drinking age... The National Highway Traffic Administration estimates that a legal drinking age of 21 has prevented greater than 21,000 deaths since 1976. Furthermore, zero-tolerance laws, which make it illegal for drivers less than 21 years of age to drive after any drinking, have been associated with approximately 20% decreases in alcohol-related crashes and DWIs."
Cowritten with S. Brown, J. Maggs, M. McGue, S. Swartzwelder, R. Hingson, et al, "A Developmental Perspective on Alcohol and Youths 16 to 20 Years of Age," Pediatrics, Apr. 12, 2008
Experts Individuals with MDs, PhDs, JDs, or equivalent advanced degrees in fields relevant to the minimum legal drinking age. Also top-level government officials (such as foreign leaders, US presidents, Founding Fathers, Supreme Court Justices, members of legislative bodies, cabinet members, military leaders, etc.) with positions relevant to the minimum legal drinking age.
Involvement and Affiliations:
Professor, Psychology, University of Michigan
Research Professor, Survey Research Center, University of Michigan
Research Affiliate, Population Studies Center, University of Michigan
Research Professor, Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Michigan
Senior Research Scientist, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan
Principal Investigator, Monitoring the Future Investigation
Fellow, American Psychological Association
Research Consultant, Michigan State University, 1993-present
Research Consultant, Purdue University, 1992-present
Co-Chair, Society for Research on Adolescence, 2006-2008
Assistant Research Scientist, University of Michigan, 1991-1995
Associate Professor, Purdue University, 1991
Research Fellow, University of Michigan, 1990-1991
Assistant Professor, Purdue University, 1986-1991
Visiting Professor, College of Human Development, Penn State University, 1987
Education:
PhD, Human Development and Family Studies, Penn State University, 1987
Cowritten with M. Patrick, "Alcohol Use and Heavy Episodic Drinking Prevalence and Predictors Among National Samples of American Eighth- and Tenth-Grade Students," Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 2010
Cowritten with P. Clarke, P. O'Malley, and L. Johnston, "Midlife Health and Socioeconomic Consequences of Persistent Overweight Across Early Adulthood: Findings From a National Survey of American Adults (1986-2008)," American Journal of Epidemiology, 2010
Cowritten with J. Staff, "Millennials and the World of Work: Experiences in Paid Work During Adolescence," Journal of Business and Psychology, 2010
Cowritten with J. Staff and J. Bachman, "Adolescent Work Intensity, School Performance, and Academic Engagement," Sociology of Education, 2010
Cowritten with P. O'Malley, "'Get High With a Little Help From My Friends' Implications of the Historical Covariation of Cannabis Use and Evenings Out," Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 2009
Cowritten with P. Clarke, P. O'Malley, L. Johnston, and P. Lantz, "Differential Trends in Weight-Related Health Behaviors Among American Young Adults by Gender, Race/Ethnicity, and Socioeconomic Status: 1984-2006," American Journal of Public Health, 2009
Cowritten with P. Clarke, P. O'Malley, and L. Johnston, "Social Disparities in BMI Trajectories Across Adulthood by Gender, Race/Ethnicity and Lifetime Socio-Economic Position: 1986-2004," International Journal of Epidemiology, 2009
Cowritten with J. Wallace, M. Vaughn, J. Bachman, P. O'Malley, and L. Johnston, "Race/Ethnicity, Socioeconomic Factors, and Smoking Among Early Adolescent Girls in the United States," Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 2009
Cowritten with S. Brown, M. McGue, J. Maggs, R. Hingson, S. Swartzwelder, et al, "Underage Alcohol Use Summary of Developmental Processes and Mechanisms: Ages 16-20," Alcohol Research & Health, 2009
Cowritten with E. Messersmith, "When Can We Expect the Unexpected? Predicting Educational Attainment When it Differs from Previous Expectations," Journal of Social Issues, 2008
Cowritten with S. Yang, J. Lynch, A. Roux, and T. Raghunathan, "Emergence of Socioeconomic Inequalities in Smoking and Overweight and Obesity in Early Adulthood: The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health," American Journal of Public Health, 2008
"Understanding the Multiple Contexts of Adolescent Risky Behavior and Positive Development: Advances and Future Directions," Applied Developmental Science, 2006
Cowritten with N. Zarrett, "Mental Health During Emerging Adulthood: Continuity and Discontinuity in Courses, Causes, and Functions. In Emerging adults in America: Coming of age in the 21st century, 2006
Cowritten with K. Jackson and K. Sher, "Conjoint Developmental Trajectories of Young Adult Alcohol and Tobacco Use," Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 2005
Cowritten with A. Merline, L. Johnston, P. O'Malley, J. Bachman, and V. Laetz, "Trajectories of Marijuana Use During the Transition to Adulthood: The Big Picture Based on National Panel Data," Journal of Drug Issues, 2005
Other:
Lansdowne Lectureship, University of Victoria, Victoria Canada, 2004
Recipient, Research Scientist Recognition Award, 2001
