Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies

Our History

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Learn more about the history of the School of Public Health

Founded in 2013, our school has made significant contributions to the field of public health and the academic legacy of Brown University.

Our History

Over 40 years of research and engagement in alcohol and addiction studies.

In the 1970s, Brown’s medical school and community health department had just begun, and interest in addiction was scattered around Brown and area hospitals.

In 1976 Dr. Stanley Aronson, Brown’s inaugural dean of medicine, recruited David Lewis, M.D. from Harvard to develop an addiction studies program at Brown. With substantial support from President Howard Swearer and key donors, the Center was established by Brown University in 1982 as part of the Division of Biology and Medicine, under the directorship of Dr. Lewis. The Center is one of 20 centers at Brown established by the President of the University to encourage interdisciplinary scholarly work that cuts across traditional department lines. Peter M. Monti, Ph.D. joined the following year.

In 2014, the Center joined the newly established School of Public Health.

Chronicles of CAAS

In 2013, the Brown News Service took a look back at CAAS’s first 30 years; in 2023, Peter Monti sat for an interview on the occasion of his retirement.

News articles

Marking 30 years of addiction studies

In three decades, the nation’s attitude toward addiction has changed from shame and criminalization to diagnosis, treatment, and research. Brown’s Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies has been a leading advocate and agent for that change. CAAS and the University are celebrating 30 years of accomplishments in addiction studies.

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Behind the Lectern: Peter Monti

Over his 50 years at Brown University, Professor Peter M. Monti has not only been witness to a sea change in our understanding of addictive disorders, but has contributed to that understanding with his research and leadership. At the School of Public Health’s 10th anniversary, he reflects on the decades of work defining Brown’s public health legacy.

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The Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies

Coffeepot — In 1999, Dr. David Lewis acquired the archives of "Alcoholics Anonymous" co-founder Dr. Robert Smith, including the coffeepot Smith used during meetings.

2005 Monti and Lewis — Peter Monti (L) and David Lewis in 2005.

2008 Kahler Monti — 2008: Chris Kahler and Peter Monti at Public Health Research Day

2019 Monti receives award — In 2019 Professor Monti received the 10th Annual Jack Mendelson Award from the National Institutes on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism for his “substantial contribution toward increasing our understanding of the effects of alcohol on health and well-being, and improving the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of alcohol-related problems.”

2011 five people in a row — 2011 American Psychological Association Conference participants from Rhode Island met with Christopher Bizzacco, Senior Policy Advisor for Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI). (L - R) Professors Peter Monti, Mark Wood and Suzanne Colby with Christopher Bizzacco and Professor Lynn Hernandez.

2012 caas leaders — 2012: Suzanne Colby, Peter Monti, Christopher Kahler and Dr. Bharat Ramratnam served on the ARCH executive committee.

2017 Monti — Peter Monti asks a question at the 2017 Barnes Lecture

Temperance collage — The Brown University Library holds the CAAS Alcohol, Temperance and Prohibition Collection. This includes broadsides, sheet music, pamphlets and government publications relating to temperance, prohibition, and the social history of alcoholism.

Learn more about the history of the School of Public Health

Founded in 2013, our school has made significant contributions to the field of public health and the academic legacy of Brown University.