[Adrian Schneider]

To call a function you need to break out of the double quotes like so,

PHP Code:

$db->query_read("
    INSERT INTO picks_groups 
        (group_title) 
    VALUES (
        '" . $db->escape_string($event_name) . "'
    )
"); 


Used " to close the string, and then . (concat operator) to join it with the next section which calls the escape function, and then . and " again to go back to double quoted string mode.

Another (easier to read / write for some, but not necessarily better) method is this:

PHP Code:

$escaped = $db->escape_string($event_name);

$db->query_read("
    INSERT INTO picks_groups 
        (group_title) 
    VALUES (
        '$escaped'
    )
");