National Institute on Drug Abuse
Director's Report to the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse
February, 1997
Planned Meetings
The NIDA Neuroscience Consortium and NIDA-B, the Molecular, Cellular
and Chemical Neurobiology Research Review Subcommittee, are co-sponsoring
a workshop on February 11, 1997 entitled "Knockouts and Transgenic
Animals: Implications for Drug Abuse Research." Speakers and their
topic are: Alcino Silva, Ph.D., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Gene targeting:
novel window on learning and memory; Mark Mayford, Ph.D., UC San Diego,
Regulated genetic control of synaptic plasticity: learning and memory; Rene
Hen, Ph.D., Columbia, Targeting addictive behavior: the knockout approach;
George Uhl, M.D., Ph.D., NIDA Intramural Research Program, Transgenic mice
provide novel insights into cocaine, amphetamine, and morphine actions;
and Eric Nestler, M.D., Ph.D., Yale, Understanding addiction: tools to manipulate
genes in the brain. The aim of the workshop is to inform committee members,
NIDA staff, and NIH staff about recent advances in transgenic technology
and its application to drug abuse research. The workshop is scheduled to
be held from 1:00 to 5:00 pm in the Potomac Room of the Parklawn Building.
On February 11-13, 1997, the NIH Office of Medical Applications of Research,
in conjunction with several NIH Institutes, will convene a consensus development
conference to address several questions about what is known about interventions
to reduce behaviors related to HIV transmission. Several presentations will
be made on interventions to reduce risks related to drug abuse, including
outreach to out-of-treatment IDUs by Dr. Richard Needle, Chief, Community
Research Branch, DEPR.
NIDA's Neuroscience Consortium has organized a workshop for high school
teachers entitled "The Biology of Addiction: Your Brain on Drugs"
to be held on March 17, 1997 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the Natcher Auditorium
on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland. This workshop is being organized
in recognition of Brain Awareness Week (March 17-23). The
featured speaker will be NIDA Director, Dr. Alan Leshner. Dr. Leshner will
discuss the latest research on biological mechanisms underlying drug abuse
and addiction, and current strategies for its prevention and treatment.
There will be opportunities for teachers to ask questions and engage in
discussions with Dr. Leshner and other NIDA staff. In addition, free teaching
materials will be available.
NIDA's Behavioral Science Working Group in conjunction with the American
Psychological Society (APS) will be sponsoring an all-day satellite conference
at the APS Convention entitled "Cognitive Science Research: More
Than Thinking About Drug Abuse." The meeting will be held on May
23, 1997 at the Washington Hilton. Dr. Alan Leshner, NIDA Director, will
open the meeting which will feature many distinguished cognitive scientists.
There will be an emphasis on the role of cognitive science in understanding
the problem of drug abuse and addiction. Invited speakers will focus on
topics such as animal cognition, the effects of drugs of abuse on cognitive
ability, information processing, social cognition, and cognitive aspects
of drug treatment and therapy. The meeting will provide opportunities for
active interchanges between speakers and attendees for discussing cognitive
science and drug abuse issues. The meeting will be open to the public and
APS Convention attendees.
To highlight scientific advances and research opportunities in the field
of drug abuse research on AIDS, NIDA's Office on AIDS has worked closely
with the College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD) to develop a number
of AIDS-related symposia for the CPDD annual meeting in Nashville, June
14-19, 1997. In addition, the Office on AIDS sought to stimulate submission
of AIDS-related abstracts to CPDD through mailings to NIDA grantees, participants
in the 1995 Scottsdale CPDD Satellite Meeting, and attendees at neuroAIDS
and neuroimmunology meetings sponsored by NIH. Over 35 abstracts were submitted
for NIDA sponsorship to CPDD.
Publications
National Conference on Marijuana Use: Prevention, Treatment,
and Research Highlights, NIH Publication #96-4106, NCADI #BKD928.
Highlights from the Conference held in July 1995. Discusses the extent
of the problem, consequences, prevention, and treatment of marijuana abuse.
Dispels myths and provides science-based information on the drug.
Epidemiologic Trends in Drug Abuse: Community Epidemiology Work Group
June 1996: Volume I Highlights and Executive Summary, NIH Publication #96-4126,
NCADI #BKD211.
Summarizes the data discussed at the June 1996 meeting of the Community
Epidemiology Work Group, which assessed recent drug abuse trends and pinpoints
populations at risk in the U.S. and abroad.
Epidemiologic Trends in Drug Abuse: Community Epidemiology Work Group
June 1996: Volume II: Proceedings, NIH Publication #96-4127.
Summarizes the data discussed at the June 1996 meeting of the Community
Epidemiology Work Group, which assessed recent drug abuse trends and pinpoints
populations at risk in the U.S. and abroad.
National Survey Results From the Monitoring the Future Study, 1975-1995,
Volume I: Secondary School Students, NIH Publication #97-4139, NCADI #BKD213.
The two-volume monograph reports the results of the 21st national survey
of drug use and related attitudes among American high school seniors, the
16th such survey of American college students, and the 5th such survey of
8th and 10th grade students.
Evaluating the Efficacy of HIV Prevention Among Drug Users: Models, Methods,
and Measures. The Journal of Drug Issues, Summer 1996 (vol. 26, number
3), edited by E. Czajkosoki and Guest Editor, Merrill Singer, is devoted
to the topic of evaluating the efficacy of HIV prevention among drug users:
models, methods, and measures. Contributors to the special issue were all
recent or current researchers participating in NIDA's Cooperative Agreement
for AIDS Community-Based Outreach/Intervention Research Program. Guest Editor
Merrill Singer and Richard H. Needle, Ph.D., M.P.H., Chief, Community Research
Branch, provide the introduction on "Preventing AIDS Among Drug
Users: Evaluating Efficacy " which describes the history and objectives
of NIDA's Cooperative Agreement program and points to its new directions
toward a second wave of even more effective HIV prevention models.
Dr. Peter Cohen of MDD authored "Off-Label" Use of Prescription
Drugs: Legal, Clinical, and Policy Considerations. European Journal
of Anaesthesiology, In Press.
Cadet J.L., Sheng P., Epstein C., and Hirata H. Nitric Oxide and Superoxide
Radicals as Mediators of Toxicity of Amphetamine Analogs. In: Free Radicals
in Brain Physiology and Disorders. Academic Press, Chpt. 33, pp. 441-448,
1996.
Pushpa V. Thadani & Conference Participants. NIDA Conference Report
on Cardiopulmonary Complications of "Crack" Cocaine Use: Clinical
Manifestation and Pathophysiology, CHEST, 110, pp. 1072-1076, 1996.
For additional information about NIDA send e-mail to Information@nida.nih.gov
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