Director's Report to the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse
February, 2002
Media and Education Activities
Press Releases
July 24, 2001 - NIDA NewsScan
- Propranolol Useful in Treating Cocaine Addicts with Severe Withdrawal Symptoms
- Researchers Use PET Scans to Understand Effects of Nicotine on Brain Function During Performance of a Working Memory Task
- Researchers Investigate Potential New Treatment for Drug Abuse Relapse Related to Environmental Cues
As a result of NewsScan promotion, coverage appeared in Substance Abuse Letter.
August 1, 2001—Therapy To Help Women Reduce Their Concerns About Gaining Weight Found To Be Effective in Helping Them to Stop Smoking.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine found that a treatment program that focuses on reducing women’s concerns about weight is the first treatment to significantly improve smoking cessation in weight-concerned women. The research was published in the August 2001 issue of Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. Coverage of this paper appeared in Substance Abuse Letter and Social Work Today.
August 9, 2001—NIDA Initiative Provides Increased Funding For Science-Based Drug Abuse Prevention Research.
NIDA announced at the 2nd National Conference on Drug Abuse Prevention Research that it would commit $30 million over the next two years to stimulate research that will fill critical gaps in the knowledge and use of science-based drug abuse prevention programs.
August 29, 2001—NIDA NewScan
- Studies Show Effects of Cocaine Use During Pregnancy on Infants’ Brains
- Rhesus Monkeys as a Model for Cocaine Abuse in Pregnant Humans
- Prenatal Cocaine Exposure Interferes With New Cell Formation and Increases the Incidence of Cell Death in the Developing Cerebral Cortex
- Chronic Prenatal Cocaine Exposure Leads to Long-term Changes in the Primate Brain
September 21, 2001—National Conference Focuses on Drug Abuse and Addiction in Minority Communities.
In September 2001, NIDA hosted “Bridging Science and Culture to Improve Drug Abuse Research in Minority Communities”. This conference brought together researchers, students, academicians, health care providers, and community leaders interested in improving drug abuse research and expanding opportunities for minorities in this field.
September 28, 2001—Scientists Find New Approach to Developing Medications To Prevent Relapse to Cocaine Use.
Research teams from the Drug Abuse Program of the VU Medical Center in the Netherlands and the intramural laboratories of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) identified a process in the brain that may lead to a new generation of medications to prevent relapse to cocaine use. The findings of this study were published in the October 1 issue of Nature-Medicine. Coverage of this publication appeared in Social Work Today, Substance Abuse Letter, Web MD, Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Weekly and Reuters Health Information.
October 16, 2001—NIDA NewScan
- Scientists Show Marijuana Use Affects Learning, Other Memory Skills
- Early Age at First Drink May Reflect Genetic Risk For Later Substance Abuse
- Adult Male Mice Exposed to Methamphetamine In Utero Have Increased Neurotoxicity Risk
- EEG Shown to Reliably Predict Drug and Alcohol Relapse Potential
- Study Finds Combination Therapy May Help Those With a History of Recurrent Depression to Quit Smoking
As a result of NewsScan promotion, coverage appeared in Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Weekly, Reuters Health Information, Substance Abuse Letter and Join Together Online.
November 27, 2001—NIDA NewsScan
- Brief Family Interventions in 6th Grade Cut Substance Abuse in 10th Grade
- Integrating Medical Care and Treatment for Substance Abuse Provides Better Outcomes
As a result of NewsScan promotion, coverage appeared in Substance Abuse Letter and, Ascribe Newswire.
November 30, 2001—Dr. Glen Hanson Named Acting Director NIDA.
Glen Hanson, Ph.D., D.D.S., was named the Acting Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse by Ruth Kirschstein, M.D., Acting Director of the National Institutes of Health. His appointment followed the resignation of Dr. Alan I. Leshner, who served as NIDA’s Director since 1994 and left to become the Chief Executive Officer of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Coverage of this announcement appeared in The Salt Lake Tribune, Open Minds Online, Substance Abuse Letter and Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Weekly.
December 1, 2001—Imaging Studies Expand Understanding of How Methamphetamine Affects the Human Brain.
It is well known that methamphetamine abuse damages the nerve endings of human brain cells containing dopamine, a chemical messenger that plays a role in memory, mood, and motor coordination. The damage affects dopamine nerve endings located in a part of the brain known as the striatum. Two recently published studies about methamphetamine offer additional insights about the actions of this drug. The findings are reported in the December 2001 issues of the American Journal of Psychiatry and the Journal of Neuroscience. Coverage from these papers appeared in United Press International, Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Weekly and Medscape Health Online.
December 19, 2001—2001 Monitoring the Future Survey Released.
Use of cigarettes by American teenagers decreased from 2000 to 2001 according to the annual Monitoring the Future Survey released by the Department of Health and Human Services. This decline, observed for 8th and 10th graders, continues a decreasing trend begun around 1996. Decreases have also been found for seniors in recent years. These reductions in teenage smoking come on the heels of increases from the early to mid-1990s and are excellent news in the nation’s battle to reduce the toll exacted by this leading cause of preventable death and disease. Coverage of this release appeared in CNN, MSNBC, The New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Washington Times, Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, Reuters Health Online, AP Online, The San Francisco Chronicle, Join Together Online and the Kansas City Star
Articles of Interest
July 28, 2001, The Economist— “The Case for Legalizing Drugs”
August 18, 2001, National Journal— Interview with Alan I. Leshner, Ph. D. — “Special Report, Prevention Takes a Different Track”
September 25, 2001, The New York Times— Interview with Alan I. Leshner, Ph.D.—“For Partygoers Who Can’t Say No, Experts Try to Reduce the Risks”
October 26, 2001, Washington City Paper— Interview with Alan I. Leshner, Ph.D., and Frank Vocci, Ph.D.— “Magic Pill”
October 26, 2001, Reuters Health—Interview with Frank Vocci, Ph. D. —“Heroin Prescription May Help Addicts: Study”
November 6, 2001, The Wall Street Journal— Interview with Alan I. Leshner, Ph.D.—“FDA Permits Test Of Ecstasy as Aid In Stress Disorder”
December 3, 2001, The Washington Times— Letter from Alan I. Leshner, Ph.D. —“Dear Abby”
December 3, 2001, Reuters Health—Interview with Nancy Pilotte, Ph.D. — “ADHD Drugs May Lower Odds of Cocaine Abuse”
December 15, 2001, The New York Times—“After Two-Decade Halt, Marijuana Research is Set”
December 19, 2001, Associated Press—Interview with Glen Hanson, Ph.D., D.D.S., and Lloyd D. Johnston, Ph. D. “Study Shows U.S. Teens Smoking Less”
Dr. Frank Vocci, Director, DTR&D, was interviewed on September 15, 2001, by Ms. Simona Gorse of Slovenian television on medications development. He also was interviewed by Ms. Helena Kocmur of Slovenian print media on treatments for heroin addiction and the neurobiology of addiction.
Dr. Frank Vocci was interviewed on September 28, 2001, by Mr. Clark Collis regarding substance abuse in the professional music community.
Dr. Frank Vocci was interviewed on October 5, 2001, by Ms. Garance Franke-Ruta of The City Paper (Washington D.C.) regarding behavioral and pharmacological approaches to addictions treatment.
Dr. Frank Vocci was interviewed by Ms. Amy Norton on October 26, 2001, regarding a Lancet publication on treating heroin addicts with small doses of heroin.
Dr. Frank Vocci was interviewed on November 5, 2001, by Ms. Mary Duenwald, NY Times Science section writer, regarding ultra rapid opiate detoxification, and treatment of opiate addiction with buprenorphine and buprenorphine/naloxone.
Dr. Frank Vocci was interviewed on November 26, 2001, by Ms. Anna Synnevag, Norwegian Public Radio, on the NIDA funded medications and behavioral treatments development efforts for opiate and stimulant addictions.
Dr. Frank Vocci was interviewed on December 10, 2001, by Ms. Arline Kaplan of Psychiatric Times for an upcoming article on behavioral and pharmacological treatments for addictive disorders.
Dr. Frank Vocci was interviewed on December 17, 2001, by Seth Manoukan of Salon.com concerning information on rapid opiate detoxification. Dr. Vocci noted that Dr. Herb Kleber of Columbia University was conducting studies of this technique and that Dr. Thomas Kosten of Yale University had written a review article on the subject.
Dr. Frank Vocci was interviewed on December 18, 2001, by James Bartiromo of Popular Science magazine. Dr. Vocci discussed clinical neurobiology, behavioral, immunological and pharmacological treatments for addiction for an article being written for Popular Science.
Dr. Steven Grant, DTR&D, was interviewed for the article “Behavioral Addictions: Do They Exist” that appeared in Science (294: 980-982, 2001).
Training
A two day protocol training session for the “Buprenorphine/Naloxone: Comparison of Three Taper Schedules for Opiate Detoxification” protocol was held December 10-11, 2001, in Durham, North Carolina. CTN providers and staff from across the nation attended this meeting.
A 3-day protocol training session took place for the "Telephone Enhancement of Long-term Engagement" protocol on December 3-5, 2001, in Rancho Mirage, CA. Staff from the North Carolina, South Carolina, and Michigan sites attended the training.
NIDA Exhibits Program
Meetings where NIDA exhibited publications and program announcements over the past several months are as follows:
| October 3-7, 2001 |
American Academy of Family Physicians Annual Scientific Assembly Meeting |
| October 6-10, 2001 |
American Methadone Treatment Association Conference |
| October 21-25, 2001 |
American Public Health Association |
| October 21-24, 2001 |
Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Providers of New York State |
| October 23-28, 2001 |
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry |
| October 27-30, 2001 |
15th Annual Conference on Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities |
October 31 – November 3, 2001
|
Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students |
| November 8-10, 2001 |
Association for Medical Education and Research In Substance Abuse |
| November 10-15, 2001 |
31st Society for Neuroscience Conference |
| November 13-18, 2001 |
American Indian Science and Engineering Society |
| December 3, 2001 |
NIDA Constituent Meeting |
| December 11-14, 2001 |
Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America |
| December 13-16, 2001 |
American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry |
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