NIDA's National Advisory Council Welcomes New Members

The National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse introduced four new members at its May meeting at NIDA headquarters in Rockville, Maryland.

(L-R) NIDA Deputy Director Dr. Tim Condon, National Advisory Council members Ms. Janet Wood, Dr.Warren K. Bickel, Dr. Ellie E. Schoenbaum, Dr. Marina E.Wolf, and NIDA Director Dr. Nora D. Volkow

Warren K. Bickel, Ph.D., is a professor in the College of Medicine and College of Public Health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Little Rock. He holds the Wilbur D. Mills Chair of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Prevention and serves as director of the UAMS Center for Addiction Research and the Center for the Study of Tobacco Addiction. Dr. Bickel's recent research includes the application of behavioral economics to drug dependence.

Ellie E. Schoenbaum, M.D., is director of AIDS research, Department of Epidemiology and Population Health at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City. She is also professor of epidemiology and population health, medicine, and obstetrics-gynecology and women's health and vice chair, Department of Epidemiology and Population Health at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Schoenbaum's research focuses on HIV, drug use, and women's health.

Marina E. Wolf, Ph.D., is chair of the Department of Neuroscience at the Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. An elected member of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, Dr. Wolf conducts research on the role of neuronal plasticity in drug addiction.

Janet Wood, M.B.A., M.Ed., is director of behavioral health services, Colorado Department of Human Services in Denver, and the mental health commissioner for the State of Colorado.

The Council advises NIDA in its efforts to identify, review, and support scientific research that supports the Institute's mission. It comprises 18 members—12 experts in scientific fields and 6 members of the public, and ex officio members from other Government entities.

Walk the Line Is Among 10th Annual PRISM Awardees

Winners of the 10th Annual PRISM Awards include Walk the Line, a film portraying the life of singer Johnny Cash and his battle with drug addiction. The awards, cosponsored by NIDA, the Entertainment Industries Council, Inc., and Fox Broadcasting Company's FX Network, recognize accurate depictions of substance abuse and addiction in television, feature film, video, music, and comic book entertainment.

(L-R) Fox Broadcasting Company Entertainment President Mr. Peter Ligouri; NIDA Director Dr. Nora D. Volkow; and Entertainment Industries Council, Inc. President and CEO Mr. Brian Dyak

"What films and TV shows do is help to put a face on the issue of substance abuse and addiction, helping the public to better understand how addiction affects the addict and how treatment can lead to hope," says NIDA Director Dr. Nora D. Volkow, who cohosted the award ceremony in Los Angeles on April 27.

Walk the Line, a feature from Fox 2000 Pictures, Tree Line Films, and Catfish Productions, was singled out in the "feature film wide release" category.

Other award recipients include:

• The "Off the Tracks" episode of Without a Trace (TV drama episode);
• Saturday Night Live (TV comedy episode);
• Several episodes of Reba (TV comedy multi-episode storyline);
• Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Mork and Mindy (TV movie or mini series);
• The Montel Williams Show entitled "Drug Abuse: Rebuilding a Family" (TV talk show episode);
• Kelly Rowan in The O.C. (performance in a drama episode);
• Georgia Engel in Everybody Loves Raymond (performance in a comedy series);
• S. Epatha Merkerson in Lackawanna Blues (performance in a TV movie); and
• Lori Loughlin in Summerland (performance in a drama multiepisode storyline).

The 10th Annual PRISM Awards will air as a 1-hour TV special on the FX Network.

Volume 21, Number 1 (October 2006)