National Institute on Drug Abuse
Director's Report to the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse
September, 1998
Meetings/Conferences
Cognition and Emotion: Applications to Drug Abuse was a satellite mini-conference to the American Psychological Society meeting held on May 21, 1998. The meeting, chaired by Dr. Jaylan Turkkan, was sponsored by NIDA's Behavioral Science Working Group. Panel chairs were Drs. Joseph Frascella, Steven Sparenbourg, and Teresa Levitin of NIDA. NIDA Council member Dr. G. Alan Marlatt was discussant for the conference, which featured several noted researchers.
Wired for Addiction was presented on June 22, 1998 as part of NIDA's Frontiers in Neuroscience seminar series. The theme of these presentations centered on the neuronal remodeling that emerges after repeated substance use and withdrawal, with particular emphasis on the possibility of altered cognitive function as a consequence of the neural remodeling. A summary and discussion of implications for humans were presented by Dr. Steve Grant of NIDA. Presenters, their affiliations, and the titles of their presentations follow: Ann Graybiel, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, "Chronic Exposure to Psychomotor Stimulants may Rewire Your Brain"; Anthony Grace, University of Pittsburgh, "Neuronal Interactions Within the Limbic System of Rats: Alteration During Amphetamine Sensitization"; John Marshall, University of California at Irvine, "Cortical and Striatal Circuits Influenced During Repeated Methamphetamine Administration"; Janet Neisewander, Arizona State University, "Neurochemical Correlates of Cocaine-Seeking Behavior"; and Regina Carelli, University of North Carolina, "The Nucleus Accumbens and Reward: Electrophysiological Studies in Behaving Animals."
Addicted to Nicotine: A National Research Forum was a NIDA conference held on July 27 and 28, 1998. Vice President Al Gore gave the keynote address which highlighted the staggering mortality from nicotine addiction and tobacco use. Written summaries, slides, and video clips of all presentations can be found at http://www.nida.nih.gov/MeetSum/Nicotine/Nicotineagenda.html. Also, a special issue of Nicotine and Tobacco Research (edited by Dr. Gary Swan) will be forthcoming. The conference was co-sponsored by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the National Cancer Institute, and the CDC Office on Smoking and Health. Conference Chairs were Drs. Jaylan Turkkan and Timothy Condon.
On August 3-4, 1998, Drs. Jag Khalsa, Sander Genser and Henry (Skip) Francis of the Center for AIDS and Other Medical Consequences of Drug Abuse conducted the NIDA's first workshop on the subject Metabolic, Endocrine, and Gastrointestinal Disorders in Drug Abuse and HIV/AIDS. It was co-sponsored by the Office of Dietary Supplements, NIH. A group of 16 expert scientists/clinicians presented and/or reviewed current findings on the subject and recommended future research. The subjects covered at the workshop ranged from lipid, carbohydrate, and protein metabolic problems, endocrine and GI problems, nutritional deficiencies, assessment tools, and various intervention strategies being tested for HIV-infected drug abusers. An executive summary for publication in JAIDS is in preparation.
On June 3-5, 1998, NIDA's Special Populations Office sponsored a three-day meeting entitled Cannabinoid and Opiate Vascular Neuroimmunology as part of its Research Development Seminar Series in Chicago, Illinois. The seminar, co-sponsored by the State University of New York at Old Westbury, featured lectures and demonstrations by NIDA staff and researchers on nitric oxide, image analysis, and neuroimmunology.
The Medications Development Division hosted a meeting on August 14, 1998 in Reston, VA to discuss the development of a multi-center protocol involving the investigational treatment of opiate dependence in the office-based setting with buprenorphine/naloxone. Representatives from the American Society of Addiction Medicine, the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, and the American Psychiatric Association and the site investigators
discussed the protocol and operations issues.
The Intramural Research Program's Library hosted a meeting of the Maryland Association of Health Science Libraries (MAHSL) group in May, 1998. Approximately 40 librarians toured the new library and viewed a demonstration of online journals, new document delivery/interlibrary loan system and online catalog.
A meeting of NIDA's Hispano/Latino Researchers and Scholars Work Group, chaired by Ana Anders, was held in conjunction with the annual College on Problems of Drug Dependence meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona, June 12-13, 1998. The meeting's focus was "Violence Research Among Hispanic Populations". The Institute Director and Deputy Director, Dr. Alan Leshner and Mr. Richard Millstein, also participated and presented.
On May 28-29, 1998, the Special Populations Office sponsored an HBCU Technical Assistance Meeting in Rockville, Maryland.
Drs. James Cooper, David Gorelick, and Frank Vocci attended a meeting on July 10, 1998 sponsored by The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) on Office-Based Opioid Therapy (OBOT) for Opiate Addicts. CSAT and NIDA have recognized a growing interest around the country on behalf of physicians and patients who want methadone treatment to be made more widely accessible. Connecticut has recently passed legislation establishing a pilot project (to begin this summer) in one community where patients from a methadone maintenance treatment program would be transferred to the care of private practitioners. Discussions have taken place in other communities toward a similar end including Seattle where the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has funded such a project. The American Methadone Treatment Association adopted criteria for implementing physician based methadone practices. There was considerable discussion about the various models of OBOT and the risks/benefits and existing obstacles for implementation of each. CSAT plans to develop this year a "strategic plan" outlining the issues, various models for possible implementation etc. Future reasearch was proposed to evaluate the feasability (risks/benefits) of OBOT's in various rural, suburban settings around the country where physicians, trained in narcotic maintenance treatment, would treat new patients in their offices. NIDA and CSAT staff have since met to further explore this research issue.
Dr. Alan I. Leshner, NIDA Director, and Ana Anders, Senior Advisor on Special Populations, participated in a July 8, 1998 WORLDNET town meeting broadcast from Roswell, New Mexico, on the subject of "Drugs, Gangs, and Violence". Jack Stein, Acting Deputy Director, OSPC, organized NIDA cooperation with the United States Information Agency to plan this event which was broadcast to Mexico City, San Salvador, and Tegucigalpa.
Mr. Richard A. Millstein, NIDA Deputy Director, met with the Board of Directors of the College on Problems of Drug Dependence on June 12, 1998.
Mr. Richard A. Millstein, NIDA Deputy Director, participated in the meeting of the Society for the Advancement of Women's Health Research and the 1998 Achievement Awards in Women's Health held June 22-23, 1998.
Mr. Richard A. Millstein, NIDA Deputy Director, and Ms. Ana Anders, Senior Advisor on Special Populations, met with Dr. Jane Delgado, President of COSSHMO, on NIDA programs and projects of particular relevance to Latinos on June 24, 1998.
Mr. Richard A. Millstein, NIDA Deputy Director, participated in activities relating to the DHHS press conference to release SAMHSA's National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, August 18-21, 1998.
Mr. Richard A. Millstein, NIDA Deputy Director, spoke on recognizing and treating drug abuse at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's National Conference on Federal Employee Assistance and Health Enhancement Programs on September 3, 1998.
Dr. Timothy P. Condon, Associate Director NIDA, conducted a media event on June 2, 1998 entitled "Substance Abuse and Youth: A Scientific Discussion of the Film Trainspotting".
Dr. Timothy Condon made a presentation entitled "Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs (ATOD)-TV and Community Attitudes Regarding Drug Abuse" on June 4, 1998 at the American Psychiatric Association's Annual Meeting held in Toronto, Canada.
Dr. Condon and Jack Stein, Acting Deputy Director, OSPC, made a presentation entitled "Using Research to Improve Clinical Practice" at the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors Annual Meeting, July 2, 1998, in Chicago, Illinois.
On June 16, 1998, Dr. Condon gave a televised presentation on "Methamphetamine Abuse and Addiction" as a guest on the Iowa cable television program "Ask Senator Harkin." Dr. Condon discussed the effects of methamphetamine on the brain and body and answered caller questions.
Dr. Andrea Baruchin, Chief, Science Policy Branch, OSPC, held a workshop at the 1998 American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting in Toronto, Canada entitled, "Dos and Don'ts in Writing Your First NIH Grant." Representatives from both NIDA and NIMH discussed funding opportunities for psychiatrists at their respective institutes.
Dr. Andrea Baruchin and Dr. Cindy Minor, Deputy Research Training Coordinator, OSPC, presented the "NIDA Grant Writing Workshop" at the 60th Annual meeting of the College on Problems of Drug Dependence held in Scottsdale, Arizona, June 16, 1998.
Dr. Andrea Baruchin represented NIDA at the Second Annual Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health Meeting, June 1-2, 1998 at the Madison Hotel.
On June 8, 1998, Jan Lipkin, Deputy Chief, Public Information Branch, Office of Science Policy and Communications, presented information on NIDA publications and materials at a meeting of the National Addiction Technology Transfer Centers in Washington, D.C.
On June 28-July 1, 1998, Beverly Wyckoff Jackson, Chief, Public Information Branch, Office of Science Policy and Communications, and Sheryl Massaro, Deputy Press Officer, Public Information Branch, participated in the 1998 National Media Education Conference, "A Paradigm for Public Health," in Colorado Springs, CO. Ms. Jackson was part of the planning committee for this event.
Dr. Cora Lee Wetherington, DBR, gave an invited presentation entitled "Behavioral Science Research Opportunities at the National Institute on Drug Abuse" at the Twenty-fourth Annual Meeting of the Association for Behavior Analysis held in Orlando, FL, May 23, 1998.
On May 27, 1998, Lula Beatty presented a session on NIDA's funding opportunities to a national group of minority researchers at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland.
On June 4, 1998, Lula Beatty presented an overview of NIDA and its programs to incoming members of the NIH Extramural Associates Program in Bethesda, Maryland.
On July 26-28, 1998, Lula Beatty attended the annual planning retreat of the Board of the NIH Extramural Associates Research Development Award Program in St. Michael's, Maryland.
On July 13-16, 1998, Ana Anders represented the Special Poulations Office at a training conference for Hispanic Researchers entitled "Preparing the Next Generation of Hispanic Researchers" in San Diego, California. The conference was sponsored by the National Latino Research Center at San Diego State University.
On August 3-4, 1998, Ana Anders presented a workshop entitled "Making the Right Connection" (Networking) to the National Association of Professional Asian American Women (NAPAW) in Bethesda, Maryland.
On August 19-22, 1998, Ana Anders represented NIDA at SAMHSA/CSAP's Regional Alcohol and Drug Awareness Resource (RADAR) Network Meeting in Miami, Florida.
Dr. Elizabeth Rahdert, DCSR, chaired a symposium entitled "Psychiatric Comorbidity Among Adolescents with a Substance Use Disorder," and was the discussant on the symposium, "Family Therapy for Drug Abusing Hispanic Youth," at the 106th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association held in San Francisco, CA, August 14-18, 1998.
Dr. Stephen Zukin, Director, DCSR, and Dr. Dorynne Czechowicz, Treatment Research Branch, DCSR, presented information on the Institute's Treatment Initiative and the Behavioral Therapies Development Program to the Committee on Research on Psychiatric Treatments, at the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting in Toronto, Canada in June 1998.
Dr. Robert Battjes, DCSR, chaired a panel presentation entitled "Drug Abuse Treatment Outcomes: Effects of Services and Settings," at the 15th Annual Meeting of the Association for Health Services Research held June 21-23, 1998, in Washington, DC.
Dr. Jack Blaine and Dr. Betty Tai, co-chairs of NIDA's Treatment Research Workgroup, held a symposium entitled "Interaction of Psychosocial Treatments and Pharmacotherapies" at the annual NCDEU meeting that took place on June 10, 1998, in Boca Raton, Florida.
Drs. Lisa Onken and Jack Blaine of the Treatment Research Branch, DCSR, co-chaired a meeting of the Stage 1 Behavioral Therapy Investigators held in Tysons Corner,VA, July 13-14, 1998.
Dr. Lisa Onken, Treatment Research Branch, DCSR, gave a presentation at the American Psychological Association Meeting in August 1998 on NIDA's Treatment Initiative, a major Institute-wide activity aimed at improving the quality of drug addiction treatment.
On July 27-29, 1998, Drs. Robert Battjes, DCSR, and Teri Levitin, OEPR, participated in the NIMH Clinical Treatment and Services Research Workgroup meeting in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The workgroup, which is a subcommittee of the NIMH Council and chaired by Dr. John Rush, is charged with reviewing NIMH's efforts in supporting research to improve treatment and systems of care and developing an action plan to enhance the utility of research for consumers, practitioners, and policy makers.
Dr. Arthur MacNeill Horton, Jr., ECNB, DCSR, presented a lecture entitled "Research Initiatives within the Clinical and Services Research Division" at the Conference on Hispanics and Drug Use: A Training Conference for Hispanic Researchers, on July 13, 1998, at San Diego State University in San Diego, California.
Dr. Arthur MacNeill Horton, Jr., ECNB, DCSR, co-chaired a poster session entitled "Eating Disorders and the Treatment of Drug Abuse" on August 17, 1998 and served as a discussant for the Symposium entitled "Psychiatric Comorbidity among Adolescents with a Substance Abuse Disorder" on August 18, 1998, at the American Psychological Association Convention in San Francisco, California.
Dr. Steven Grant, ECNB, DCSR, was a discussant at the meeting entitled "Brain Imaging in Development of Medications for Drug Abuse" held on June 19, 1998 in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Dr. Joseph Frascella, ECNB, DCSR, chaired a session on "Drug Abuse and Emotion" at the symposium on "Cognition and Emotion Applications to Drug Abuse" that was a satellite held at the annual meeting of American Psychological Society in Washington DC, May 21, 1998.
Dr. Joseph Frascella, ECNB, DCSR presented a poster entitled "Clinical Neurobiology Research Opportunities at NIDA" at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Society held in Washington, DC on May 22, 1998.
Dr. Joseph Frascella, ECNB, DCSR gave a presentation at the annual meeting of the Society for Biological Psychiatry on Grant Writing Strategies and Process in Toronto, Canada on May 30, 1998.
Dr. Joseph Frascella, ECNB, DCSR made two presentations at the Special Populations Research Development Seminar Series: Cannabinoid and Opiate Vascular Neuroimmunology held in Rosemont, Illinois, June 3-5, 1998.
Dr. Joseph Frascella, ECNB, DCSR was a discussant at the symposium entitled "Magnetic Resonance Applications in Substance Abuse" held at the CPDD meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona, on June 15, 1998.
Drs. Stephen Zukin, Steven Grant, and Joseph Frascella of the Division of Clinical and Services Research presented at and participated in a portion of the Summer Institute on Cognitive Neuroscience held in Squaw Valley, California, July 8-13, 1998.
NIDA Staff from the Division of Epidemiology and Prevention Research (DEPR) presented poster sessions on NIDA funded research at the American Psychological Society meeting held in Washington, DC, May 2, 1998.
Dr. Elizabeth Robertson was a participant in a symposium at the Society for Prevention Research annual meeting held in Park City, Utah, on June 7, 1998. The title of the symposium was "Dissemination Systems Collaboration Across Multiple Phases of Prevention Research".
Drs. Elizabeth Robertson and Bennett Fletcher and Ms. Susan Azeka presented a panel titled "NIDA Research Update" at the Association for Health Services Research, in Washington, D.C. on June 21, 1998.
Drs. Elizabeth Robertson, Jacques Normand, and James Colliver of DEPR presented poster sessions on the PRB, CRB, and ERB research agendas and funding opportunities at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Society held in Washington May 22-24, 1998.
Dr. Elizabeth Robertson attended the Family Research Consortium meetings in Blaine, Washington, June 27-30, 1998. The topic of the discussions was family-based prevention interventions.
Dr. James Colliver of DEPR and Dr. Lucinda Miner of OSPC represented NIDA at a meeting entitled Stages and Pathways of Drug Involvement: Examining the Gateway Hypothesis, held in Los Angeles, CA, June 27-30, 1998. Chaired by Drs. Denise Kandel and Richard Jessor, this meeting brought together a multidisciplinary group of researchers to present and evaluate evidence on various aspects of the gateway phenomenon.
Peter Hartsock, Dr. P.H., CRB, DEPR represented DHHS at a special meeting of the Federal Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC) on June 23, 1998 to begin planning federal Arctic research efforts for the next century.
Dr. Frank Vocci presented on Pharmacotherapy for Opiate and Cocaine Dependence at a symposium on Medications Development for Addictive Disorders at the American Psychiatric Association meeting held in Toronto, Canada, on June 1, 1998.
Dr. Frank Vocci spoke on MDD- Industry Interactions in the Development of Medications for Substance Abuse Disorders at a symposium: Drug Abuse Pharmacotherapy Development in the Private Sector in Scottsdale, Arizona on June 15, 1998.
Drs. Anna Rose Childress and Frank Vocci co-chaired a June 15, 1998 workshop entitled "The Duality of Drug-Craving States: Implications for the Development of Anti-Craving Medications" at the College on Problems of Drug Dependence meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona. Drs. George Koob, David Roberts, Mark Albanese, and Anna Rose Childress presented on the implications of drug withdrawal, negative affect states, and alleviation of such states as motivators for drug use.
Dr. Frank Vocci presented on the Requirements for the Development of Medications for Addictive Disorders at a satellite symposium: Brain Imaging in Development of Medications for Drug Abuse in Scottsdale, AZ, June 19, 1998. Dr. Vocci's presentation focused on the role of neuroimaging techniques in clinical pharmacology studies to increase effectiveness and efficiency in medications development. The symposium proceedings will be published in the CPDD monograph.
Dr. Frank Vocci gave a plenary lecture at the New England School for Addiction Studies in Amherst, MA on June 2, 1998. His presentation focused on the current benefits associated with the use of methadone and LAAM and the prospective role of buprenorphine in the treatment of opiate dependence.
Dr. Peter J. Cohen, MDD, presented Grand Rounds at the Intramural Research Program on May 28, 1998 with a discussion of Institutional Review Boards and Clinical Investigation. An Ethical Conundrum: Inclusion Of (Pregnant) Women.
Dr. Alane S. Kimes, IRP, presented "In Vivo Imaging of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors" at the University of Kansas Medical Center Society for Neuroscience Local Chapter Meeting held in Kansas City, KS on May 18, 1998.
Dr. John Matochik, IRP, presented "Using PET and MRI to Understand Brain Function" at the Neuroscience Research Program, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN on June 25, 1998.
Dr. Andrew Horti, IRP, presented "Development of Radiotracers for In Vivo and In Vitro Central Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors" at the NIDA IRP Seminar Series, Baltimore, MD, on June 30, 1998.
Dr. Edythe D. London, IRP, organized a satellite meeting entitled "Brain Imaging in Development of Medications for Drug Abuse" and presented "Imaging the Underlying Pathology of Drug Abuse" at The College on Problems of Drug Dependence's Sixtieth Annual Scientific Meeting held in Scottsdale, AZ, June 13-18, 1998.
Dr. D. Bruce Vaupel, IRP, presented "Effects of Cocaine-Related Environmental Stimuli on the Spontaneous EEG and Craving in Polydrug Abusers" at The College on Problems of Drug Dependence's Sixtieth Annual Scientific Meeting held in Scottsdale, AZ, Jun. 13-18, 1998.
Dr. Evan D. Morris, IRP, presented "Comparison of Quantitative Measures of Neurotransmitter Changes Based on PET: A Simulation Study" at the Functional Neuroreceptor Mapping of Living Brain Conference held in Ann Arbor, MI, June 12-14, 1998.
Dr. D. Bruce Vaupel, IRP, presented "Preclinical Evaluation of [123/125I]5-IODO-A-85380, a New SPECT Ligand for Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors" at the PET Interest Group, NIH, Bethesda, MD on July 17, 1998.
Dr. Amy Newman was invited to give a lecture to the Drug Discovery Group at Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, D. C. in June 1998. The title of her talk was "Novel 3aŽ-(Diphenylmethoxy) Tropane Analogs as Probes for the Dopamine Transporter".
David A. Gorelick, M.D., Ph.D., organized and chaired a symposium on "Detection and Treatment of Stimulant Abuse" at the American Psychiatric Association's annual meeting held in Toronto, Canada on June 3, 1998.
Dr. Evan D. Morris, IRP, presented "Effect of Age on D2 Dopamine Receptor Binding Measured with 11-C Raclopride and PET in Rhesus Monkeys. Partial Volume Correction Reduces the Apparent Rate of Decline with Age" at the Society of Nuclear Medicine 45th Annual Meeting held in Toronto, Canada, June 7-11, 1998.
Dr. David Newlin, IRP, organized and chaired a symposium on the "Cardiovascular Psychophysiology of Alcohol and Cocaine" at the Research Society on Alcoholism 1998 meetings in Hilton Head, SC. As part of this symposium he presented a paper on "The Effect of Alcohol and Cocaine on Chaos and Complexity Measures of Cardiovascular Function."
Gorelick, D.A., Bencherif, B., Nelson, R.A., Stauffer, R., Ravert, H., Dannals, R., & Frost, J.J. Mu-Opioid Receptor Binding During Cocaine Abstinence. Presented at the American Psychiatric Association annual meeting, Toronto, Canada, June 1998.
Gorelick, D.A., Carriero, N.J., Simmons, M.S., & Tashkin, D.P. Antecedents of Smoked Cocaine Use in Male Cocaine Smokers. Presented at the College on Problems of Drug Dependence annual meeting, Scottsdale, AZ, June 1998.
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