NIDA Will Host Meeting in New York To Facilitate Closing the Gap Between Research and Clinical Practice

What:The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), one of the National Institutes of Health, is convening a meeting, Blending Clinical Practice and Research: Forging Partnerships to Enhance Drug Treatment, in New York. The conference will provide an important opportunity for clinicians and researchers to examine cutting-edge scientific findings about drug abuse and addiction and their application to clinical practice.Who:The meeting is sponsored by NIDA, in partnership with the New York Clinical Trials Network (CTN) Node/New York University School of Medicine, the Long Island CTN Node/Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Providers of NYS, Northeast Addiction Technology Transfer Centers (ATTC), and the New York State Practice Improvement Collaborative (PIC)When:Thursday, March 14, and Friday, March 15, 2002Where:Grand Hyatt Hotel 109 E. 42nd Street New York, NYWhy:As in other fields of medicine, a gap exists in the drug abuse treatment field between clinical practice and scientific research. The purpose of this meeting is to foster partnerships that will help move drug addiction research into clinical practice. Over the past few years, this research has yielded fresh insights into the effects of drugs on the structure and function of the brain. This enhanced understanding has opened doors to new approaches to treatment and prevention of drug abuse and addiction.Topics:Teams of nationally recognized clinicians and researchers will conduct plenary presentations and workshops on a variety of relevant topics, including: Drugs, the Brain, and Behavior Innovations in Behavioral Therapies to Treat Addiction Innovations in the Development of Medications to TreatAddiction Co-Occurring Drug Abuse and Mental Illness Club Drugs Adolescent Drug Abuse Gender Issues in Addiction Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Drug Abuse Drug Abuse and Infectious Diseases Drug Treatment in the Criminal Justice System Craving and Relapse Presentations also will be made on current research initiatives and NIDA's Clinical Trials Network.

Media are invited to attend. For more information, please call the NIDA Press Office at 301-443-6245.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse is a component of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIDA supports more than 85 percent of the world's research on the health aspects of drug abuse and addiction. The Institute carries out a large variety of programs to ensure the rapid dissemination of research information and its implementation in policy and practice. Fact sheets on the health effects of drugs of abuse and other topics can be ordered free of charge in English and Spanish through NIDA Infofax at 1-888-NIH-NIDA (644-6432) or 1-888-TTY-NIDA (889-6432) for the deaf. These fact sheets and further information on NIDA research and other activities can be found on the NIDA home page at http://www.drugabuse.gov.