ADAI News

UW Researcher Testifies at Federal Hearing on Heroin and Prescription Drug Abuse

On Thursday, March 26, 2015 the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations in the US House of Representatives held a hearing entitled “Examining the Growing Problems of Prescription Drug and Heroin Abuse: State and Local Perspectives.”  The purpose of the hearing was to review the recent prescription drug and heroin epidemic in the United States, with witnesses from states and local communities, including Dr. Caleb Banta-Green, Research Scientist at the University of Washington’s Alcohol & Drug Abuse Institute.  Witnesses gave a “boots on the ground” perspective of the trends they are observing and specific local impacts, why the problem is getting worse, how it is being handled by states and local communities, what works and what does not, and how to improve the federal public health efforts to prevent and treat prescription drug and heroin abuse.  The aim of the hearing was to identify “success stories” at the local level that could have national application, and to get feedback on the effectiveness of federal programs aimed at reducing prescription drug and heroin overdoses.

READ written testimony, or WATCH video of the hearing:  http://energycommerce.house.gov/hearing/examining-growing-problems-prescription-drug-and-heroin-abuse-state-and-local-perspectives

Substance Use Programs in American Indian Communities Should Reflect Tribal Values & Traditions

"One size fits all' interventions for American Indian communities should represent their values and traditions, finds a study by ADAI Research Scientist Sandra Radin, lead author of an article in the Journal of Ethnicity and Substance Abuse, co-authored with representatives of the partnering tribal communities as well as Lisa Rey Thomas and Dennis Donovan of ADAI.

Most interventions have been developed for non-Native individuals, Radin noted; even programs developed in one Native American community might not work for another with a different culture and history.

"American Indians have thousands of years of experience dealing with adversity and have customs and traditions that have helped them to survive,” Radin said. “There is a lot that they know about their communities and their communities’ needs that outside researchers don’t.”

Successful interventions, tribal members told the researchers, would incorporate tribal communities' strengths by recognizing those values and incorporating cultural practices into treatment and prevention, such as traditional ceremonies, healing rituals, and practices such as beading, weaving, and drumming, according to Radin.

Read the full story by Michael McCarthy in UW Health Sciences NewsBeat.

UW Ranks in Top 10 Medical Schools for Programs in Addiction - Again!

Once again the University of Washington is ranked among the Top Ten U.S. medical schools for drug and alcohol abuse programs.  Graduate programs in this category incorporate behavioral science, treatment and prevention techniques for patients with addictions.

In its annual ranking of graduate programs, U.S. News & World Report ranked the UW School of Medicine No. 1 overall for primary care.

In addition, UW gained high marks for teaching in several specialty areas, including No. 1 in both family medicine and rural medicine.  UW Medicine is ranked No. 10 in the specialty category of drug and alcohol abuse.   View the Top Ten medical schools for drug and alcohol programs.

Online Training for Healthcare Providers on Medicinal Cannabis

The University of Washington Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute  launched a new interactive online education program that gives healthcare providers the knowledge and tools they need to discuss medicinal cannabis with their patients suffering from chronic pain.  

Medicinal cannabis has been shown to be an effective therapy in the treatment of chronic pain.  Though a legally available option in Washington State, recommendations for medicinal cannabis may be avoided by providers who lack knowledge about the potential benefits and risks of this approach in managing chronic pain, and confidence in discussing this option with their patients. 

 “Washington State passed one of the earliest laws allowing for the use of medical marijuana by qualified patients.  We now have the legal marijuana as well for non-medical use.  Thus, regardless of personal opinions or viewpoints, it is critical that all health care providers in our state possess a good working knowledge of the pharmacology of cannabis,” said Dr. Gregory Carter, Medical Director of St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute in Spokane and a key instructor in the training.

"Medicinal Cannabis and Chronic Pain" was developed with a grant awarded to ADAI Research Scientist Dr. Beatriz Carlini by the Washington Office of the Attorney General to offer non-judgmental, science-based information to healthcare providers and the general public.

 “Our ultimate goal is to help clinicians to make informed clinical decisions on this topic. The information provided during the trainings aims to destigmatize cannabis and increase providers’ comfort level in talking to patients about medicinal cannabis,” Carlini said. Included on the training website are patient education materials and screening and clinical tools for providers.  Up to 2.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ are available for health care providers who successfully complete the online course.

More information about this project and a link to the training can be found at http://adai.uw.edu/mcacp/.