Mission Statement

The TOADS Workgroup promotes the application of state-of-the-art technologies that are being used successfully in other disciplines (e.g., virtual reality) for the purposes of studying, preventing and treating drug abuse and related NIDA programmatic areas (e.g., pain). To explore the exciting possibilities of applying new approaches, devices and/or strategies to problems of substance abuse, many areas of expertise are clearly needed. TOADS, therefore, draws on a multidisciplinary effort across the Institute in the strong belief that cooperation and interaction among the various NIDA units is essential for the proposed aims to be realized. Basic research-oriented individuals will be invaluable in the assessment of the effectiveness of applying the various technologies to models of drug abuse and clinically oriented NIDA staff will be needed to evaluate the clinical utility and effectiveness of the new technologies as primary, complimentary or adjunctive preventive or treatment interventions.

Membership is ongoing, and new membership encouraged. If interested in being placed on our list, please contact Ro (301-402-1746) or Dave (301-596-1313). Meetings are scheduled for the second Thursday of every month and are held in NIDA's Third Floor Conference Room, 9:30-11:00.

Current Membership List

Press

• Utilizing virtual reality to standardize nicotine craving research: A pilot study [pdf, 210 KB]
• Researcher Uses Virtual Reality to Study Smokers
• What Are You Afraid Of? [pdf, 60 KB]
• Fake Worlds Offer Real Medicine: Virtual Reality Finding a Role in Treatment and Training [pdf, 140 KB]

Related Meetings

• Cyber Therapy 2005
• Virtual Reality: Opportunities for the National Institutes of Health - Agenda
• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in the Treatment of Drug Abuse and Other Brain Disorders - Agenda

• MMVR14 / Accelerating Change in Healthcare: Next Medical Toolkit
• Cyberpsychology and Behavior (Journal)
• Virtually Better Inc
• Psychology Software tools, Inc.
• Juxtopia Inc.