Dr. Friese’s background is in sociology and public health with specific expertise in underage risk behaviors, including underage drinking and drug use. She has more than 15 years of advanced experience in the areas of evaluation, survey research, program design and implementation, as well as extensive experience managing large scale evaluation and research projects. Dr. Friese is the PI on an R34 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). The goal of this study is to develop an intervention, using a combination of traditional media and mobile technologies, to reduce marijuana use among high school students.

Previously, Dr. Friese was the principal investigator on an R01 from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). The goal of this study was to gain an understanding of how youth access alcohol and how these sources relate to drinking behaviors and contexts in order to further the development of more effective policies and programs. This study also included interviews with parents to examine youth access to prescription drugs in the home, and parents’ knowledge and attitudes concerning social host ordinances. Dr. Friese’s publications, based on quantitative and qualitative research, include studies on alcohol and drug use among children and adolescents (Friese et al., 2012a; Friese et al., 2012b; Jennings et al., 2011; Friese & Grube, 2014); disparities in alcohol use among racial and ethnic groups, in particular Native Americans (Friese & Grube, 2008; Friese et al., 2011); youth access to prescription drugs in the home (Friese et al., in press); and the role of medical marijuana legalization on youth marijuana use (Friese & Grube, 2013).