For Release June 6, 2002

More than 1,000 scientists and physicians are meeting June 8th-13th in Quebec City, Quebec, at the 64th annual meeting of the College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD) to discuss the latest research findings on drug abuse and dependence. The conference, partially sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), a component of the National Institutes of Health in the United States, will be held at the Hilton Hotel and the Quebec City Convention Centre.

A broad range of research that addresses mechanisms for the development of drug dependence and prevention and treatment of drug abuse will be presented. Adolescent drug use, club drugs, gender differences in the effects of drugs, violence and drug use, prescription drug abuse, and the application of information technology to drug abuse prevention and treatment are among the many topics that will be discussed.

On Sunday, June 9th, starting at 8:30 a.m., achievement awards will be presented in the Hilton Ballroom to outstanding scientists for their contributions to the field of addiction science. Among the recipients are Dr. Alan Leshner, former NIDA director, and David Courtwright, historian and author of three books, Dark Pleasures, Forces of Habit, and Addicts who Survived.

John Walters, director of the Office of National (USA) Drug Control Policy, will speak on Wednesday, June 12th at 1:15 p.m. in the Hilton Ballroom.

NIDA is sponsoring several workshops at the conference. "NIDA Medications Development: New Directions and Resources for Medicinal Chemists Targeting Biogenic Amine Transporters" will be held from 8 p.m. - 10 p.m., Tuesday, June 11th, in Room 206 B in the Convention Centre. A second NIDA symposium, "What's New at NIDA and NIH: How Will It Affect You?", co-chaired by Mark Green, Teri Levitin and Mark Swieter, will be held simultaneously in Room 206 A.

The College on Problems of Drug Dependence is the oldest independent organization in the United States that supports research on the scientific explanation of drug use and dependence.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse is a component of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIDA supports more than 85 percent of the world's research on the health aspects of drug abuse and addiction. The Institute carries out a large variety of programs to ensure the rapid dissemination of research information and its implementation in policy and practice. Fact sheets on the health effects of drugs of abuse and other topics can be ordered free of charge in English and Spanish by calling NIDA Infofax at 1-888-NIH-NIDA (644-6432) or 1-888-TTY-NIDA (889-6432) for the deaf. These fact sheets and further information on NIDA research and other activities can be found on the NIDA home page at http://www.drugabuse.gov.