Mission Statement
The principal mission of the Center for Applied Research on
Substance Use and Health Disparities (ARSH) is the
production, dissemination, and utilization of scientific
knowledge in the areas of substance abuse, health risk
behaviors, and health disparities among vulnerable
populations. Areas of special interest include:
The etiology, patterns and consequences, and prevention
and treatment of drug and alcohol abuse;
The epidemiology of HIV/AIDS and other sexually
transmitted infections, and the prevention of such
infections among highly vulnerable populations;
The prevalence and patterns of health disparities among
affected subpopulations, and the development and testing
of new approaches to intervention.
ARSH is part of the Institute for the Study of Human Service,
Health and Justice located in the Division of Applied
Interdisciplinary Studies. The Center is headed by Dr. Steven
P. Kurtz (Ph.D. in Sociology from Florida International
University). In addition to the Miami research office, ARSH
maintains a field office that houses the day-to-day operations
of extramurally funded grants.
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