Danielle Dick

Curious by Nature | Dr. Danielle Dick - Why Some Kids Are More Vulnerable to Addiction | Newswise Most people will encounter alcohol or other substances at some point in their lives. For many, that use remains occasional and manageable. For others, it becomes something far more disruptive.

Why are some kids more vulnerable to #addiction than others? I joined the #Newswise #CuriousbyNature podcast to to discuss how personality, g#enetics, and brain development shape risk, and why prevention starts with understanding each child as an individual.
🎧 Watch here: https://loom.ly/qj7W4AQ

Tune into my interview on #passagetoprofit Show!

Sat - Sun, January 17 - 18 on Radio America Network stations: loom.ly/T8yJsfc

Sunday, January 18 @ 7:30 am ET on Radio Garden State: loom.ly/81r8H3o

Sunday, January 18 @ 11 pm ET on iHeartRadio / WOR710: loom.ly/NfTvCv4

Why some people can’t stay away from alcohol, even when they know it’s hurting them | CNN Health experts caution against drinking too much, but alcohol is everywhere. Experts say the things that make us pour another drink are in our body and environment.

Alcohol affects people differently because risk is shaped by genetics, environment, and motivation — not just how much you drink. I spoke with CNN about why drinking exists on a continuum and why even small reductions can matter.

www.cnn.com/2026/01/09/h...

Wishing our RARC/BHI community a holiday season filled with warmth, connection, and meaningful moments. We’re deeply grateful for your support and engagement, and look forward to staying connected and building together in 2026.

Captivated by the idea of picture-perfect holidays, complete with matching pajamas and hot chocolate by the fire? 🎄✨ Real life, however, tends to be a bit messier. My blog dives into the reality of holiday chaos, complete with humorous bloopers: loom.ly/RlQX4hs

Worried about your drinking or a loved one? Here’s how to find help for alcohol problems

When it comes to alcohol and health, the information out there can be overwhelming, especially during the holidays. I always start with the science, and I’ve gathered my go-to resources to help you recognize problems and find evidence-based support: loom.ly/r-HF6YU

Still have Christmas shopping to do? THE CHILD CODE makes a great gift for anyone who is a parent (or planning to be)! 😊🎄✨ Available at TheChildCode.com or anywhere books are sold.

Campus Surge 2025: Rutgers University - New Brunswick Mobilize Recovery is bringing the Campus Surge 2025 initiative to Rutgers University as part of a nationwide effort to address the challenges of substance use and mental health among college students.

@rutgersarc.bsky.social is tabling at the Resource Fair 5–6 PM! Stop by to learn about our latest research & initiatives. After, hear from Leadership Council members Creighton Drury (Partnership to End Addiction) & Lauren Sisler (ESPN).
loom.ly/HqBam_o

New to NIH grant writing? Join the 5-session virtual mini-course (Jan 5–9, 2026; 2–3:30 pm ET) helps you turn good ideas into competitive K/R apps. Open to trainees, postdocs, faculty & clinicians at U.S. institutions (Rutgers not required): loom.ly/Yg9BkFw

Rutgers folks 📣 Online registration for the @rutgersarc.bsky.social Fall Symposium closes today at 5 PM. Join us Sept. 5 at Rutgers Busch Student Center for a full day of science & collaboration—featuring keynote Dr. Huda Akil, invited talks, panel, posters & more. Don’t miss it: loom.ly/EGW3YgA

New article w/ @j9austin.bsky.social Genomics is moving fast –but how do we share #genetic risk info for psychiatric & substance use disorders in ways that help, not harm? We call for urgent research to guide best practices & real-world impact.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

Study Sheds Light on Early Risk Factors for Teen Drinking

Our Rutgers-led study followed nearly 12,000 youth from age 9. Key finding: while the home environment strongly shapes when teens first try alcohol, the decision to continue is driven more by individual factors like genetic predispositions and sensation-seeking:
www.rutgers.edu/news/study-s...

#ThrowbackThursday to stepping onto the TED stage to talk about something that touches all of us — #substanceuse and #mentalhealth.

1 in 4 people will experience these challenges in their lifetime. In my talk, I share what drives them and how we can all be part of the solution ➡️ loom.ly/_SXgCAM

If you’re at #RSA in New Orleans, come by the #RARC Meet-Up this evening. I’ll be there along with my colleagues from the Rutgers Addiction Research Center—hope to see you!

More laypeople are prepared to intervene during opioid overdoses, but misconceptions persist Public messaging in recent years about keeping naloxone handy has shown considerable success, but more work is needed to overcome perceived barriers

Important read from Peter Attia, MD on why everyone—not just clinicians—should carry #naloxone. Being prepared can save a life. Let’s change the culture around overdose response.
📖 loom.ly/92QRfa0

Honored to speak at the HELIX NJ Discovery Showcase about how we're using #genomics, behavioral, and environmental science to advance addiction risk identification. Exciting day for Rutgers research!
Learn more 🔗 loom.ly/wAyOGyE

#ThriveGenetics #RutgersResearch

I’m excited to be speaking at the inaugural HELIX NJ Discovery Showcase on April 29—a day dedicated to spotlighting Rutgers researchers and groundbreaking science. I’ll be sharing how we’re using #genomics to help end the #addictionepidemic. Registration is free and open to all: loom.ly/_n5hQow

Unlocking Parenting with Science with Dr. Danielle Dick Child Psych Podcast Episode #120 Hello and welcome to The Child Psych Podcast. I'm Tania Johnson, a registered psychologist, registered play therapist,

🎙️🧬 New Podcast Episode! I joined the Institute of Child Psychology podcast to dive into how #genetics influence traits like #Extraversion, #Emotionality & #EffortfulControl and why adapting to your child’s natural wiring is key. #ScienceOfParenting

🔗 instituteofchildpsychology.com/unlocking-pa...

🚀Introducing #CARES: The Comprehensive Addiction Risk Evaluation System. #CARES empowers individuals with personalized insights so they can take proactive steps toward #prevention, #treatment, and long-term #wellbeing. #KnowYourRisk #PersonalizedHealth

Learn more 🔗 addictionrisk.com

Alcohol use in Early Midlife: Findings from the Age 37 Follow-Up Assessment of the FinnTwin12 Cohort - Behavior Genetics This paper provides an overview of the most recent assessment, collected in early midlife, of the FinnTwin12 cohort, a population-based study of Finnish twins born in 1983–1987. The twins were invited...

New paper out describing the latest mid-life data collection on the longitudinal FinnTwin12 study. I cleaned and analyzed the first wave of data from this project (when they were age 12!) when I was a graduate student…and now they are 37!

link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Rutgers Health scores $686K grant to study effects of medicinal cannabis use According to lead researcher Tammy Chung, “With the rapid increase in medicinal cannabis use, there is an urgent need to identify patients who are at-risk for cannabis use disorder, which can occur as...

Tammy Chung from @rutgersifh.bsky.social is leading a 5-year study with $686K funding from @NIDAnews to explore the benefits & risks of medicinal cannabis. This research aims to improve clinical guidelines for safer use.

Learn more: loom.ly/RuAGl8Y

#CannabisResearch #PublicHealth #Rutgers

The complete set of papers about Spit for Science is now available (paywalled). My original essay with Sarah Rodock Greer, comments by @stevendowns.bsky.social et al, @awaisaftab.bsky.social, John Sadler, Robert Cloninger, and @drdanielledick.bsky.social. Then a reply from us.

Did you know? #Alcohol is a Group 1 carcinogen, like tobacco & asbestos, yet less than half of Americans are aware it’s a leading preventable cause of cancer.

🍷 Linked to 100K cancer cases & 20K deaths annually in the U.S. Learn more from the Surgeon General’s Advisory: www.hhs.gov/sites/defaul...

Also check out this amazing IAS cannabis studies lab!

@iasociety.bsky.social

Thank you USC Institute for Addiction Studies for inviting me to speak at your annual retreat! Such an impressive group

Still have Christmas shopping to do? THE CHILD CODE makes a great gift for anyone who is a parent (or planning to be)! 😊🎄✨ Available at TheChildCode.com or anywhere books are sold.

#TheChildCode #Parenting #Research #ChildPsychology #MentalHealth #Family #EmotionalHealth #HappyHolidays

A Pilot Study to Assess the Impact of a Multifactorial Explanation for Mental Illness on Prejudicial Attitudes Towards People With Mental Illness Public stigma and prejudice toward people with psychiatric conditions is highly prevalent and damaging. Explanations for the origins of mental illness can influence attitudes toward people with these...

🚨 To celebrate @altmetric.com tracking Bluesky, here’s a new (1st!) paper by Hailey Segal (not on here) onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... coauthors include me & @drdanielledick.bsky.social - it’s about the effect on prejudice of telling people what *really* causes psych illness #GeneChat 🧪

Short Course on the Genetics of Addiction Explore the genetic foundations of addiction This course offers an immersive experience into the practical applications of genetic and genomic approaches to drug addiction research, spanning both huma...

I'm looking forward to @jacksonlab.bsky.social Short Course on the Genetics of Addiction at @morganstately.bsky.social from January 13 – 16, 2025! Join me and other experts to learn about the practical applications of #genetic and genomic approaches to drug #addiction #research.

loom.ly/dibEDQs

Does Letting Your Child Drink at Home Teach Them to Drink Responsibly? What research reveals about teenage brains and alcohol — and practical steps parents can take to keep their teens safe.

Does lowering the drinking age teach #teens to drink responsibly? 🚫🍷 In my latest blog, I bust the myths, share surprising #research, and offer actionable tips for #parents navigating the teen years!

Full blog here: loom.ly/7TNLAGg

#ParentingTips #AdolescentHealth #AlcoholUse