In June 2011, Dr. Collins provided an update on the status of the proposed substance use, abuse, and addiction reorganization. Over the intervening months, the NIH has continued to undertake a detailed analysis of our current substance use, abuse, and addiction-related research portfolio. That analysis is still ongoing; however, we do not only want to look at what we have done, but also what we could do. A planning committee of scientific representatives from the potentially affected Institutes and Centers is currently developing a Scientific Strategic Plan for the proposed Institute. The planning committee’s goal is to identify new scientific opportunities and public health needs that are not sufficiently addressed by NIH at this time and subsequently assess the identified opportunities and needs, taking into consideration the current scientific strategic plans and missions of NIAAA, NIDA, and other potentially affected ICs. Together, the portfolio analysis and the Scientific Strategic Plan will allow the NIH, and the research community, to see fully the potential benefits that this reorganization could bring to substance use, abuse, and addiction research.
In order to inform the development of the Scientific Strategic Plan, NIH has published a Request for Information (RFI) to solicit ideas for new scientific opportunities and public health needs in substance use, abuse, and addiction-related research. This RFI closes on Friday, May 11.
We look forward to receiving your input on this important issue.
As a physician in recovery, I find care for addiction to be lacking in several aspects.
First, the term alcohol “abuse” is degrading. In the broad context used in society-
Spouse “abuse”, child “abuse” , sexual “abuse”, etc……The term “abuse” immediately brings to mind a person willfully engaging in a nefarious activity. The condition I suffer from is a chronic medical condition, not a moral failing.
Please consider changing “abuse” to a neutral term.
Consider the effect of labeling type 2 diabetics “carbohydrate abusers” or Hyperlipidemic patients “fat abusers”…the list of poorly “categorized” diagnoses goes on…
Second, the NIAAA Clinician’ s Guide {alcohol} is ineffective. I am a patient at one of the country’s largest Health Treatment Organizations, and it’s not used….why? I found many issues in the guide that ought to be reconsidered—
If interested in my opinion as a person suffering from this chronic medical condition, I would be happy to assist any upcoming revisions.
Drew J. Steiner, M.D.
From a strategic and scientific standpoint, an Institute that stimulates and supports addiction science from a broad perspective would accelerate progress in understanding the links between brain and behavior that contribute to addiction. In addition to substance abuse research across the spectrum, it would be valuable to include research on compulsive behaviors such as over-eating and gambling, and to address links between substance abuse, psychiatric comorbidity, and HIV.