Drug Abuse Technology Transfer

Since it was first published in 2000, The Change Book has proven to be a landmark document for the addictions treatment and recovery services field. It is the first publication of its kind to outline the multidimensional aspects of instituting change specifically for addiction-related agencies. Within The Change Book are practical steps towards bringing about and maintaining change. However, change is not easy. Effective technology transfer efforts involve change at a variety of levels within the overall system. The Change Book offers a comprehensive blueprint for change, which will help direct each aspect of the design, development, implementation, evaluation and revision of a technology transfer plan. Factors influencing the success of a technology transfer initiative, effective change strategies, and Principles for successful adoption to occur are addressed. Today The Change Book is effectively guiding professionals across the country to create sustained change. Its design helps frontline treatment practitioners to implement new treatment modalities within their agencies, as well as government officials in state departments work toward system-wide changes. Although targeted for the addictions treatment and recovery services field, The Change Book has been successful in guiding change within other industries and fields of study. Demand for this publication continues to outnumber supply, as requests for The Change Book are made daily. For this reason, the Addiction Tecnology Transfer Center (ATTC) Network (www.ATTCnetwork.org) will now offer the second edition of The Change Book through an innovative distribution method made in partnership with AuthorHouse(R). The Change Book is now readily available through AuthorHouse(R), as well as a broad array of online venues.

New and improved therapies to treat and protect against drug dependence and abuse are urgently needed. In the United States alone about 50 million people regularly smoke tobacco and another 5 million are addicted to other drugs. In a given year, millions of these individuals attemptâ€"with or without medical assistanceâ€"to quit using drugs, though relapse remains the norm. Furthermore, each year several million teenagers start smoking and nearly as many take illicit drugs for the first time. Research is advancing on promising new means of treating drug addiction using immunotherapies and sustained-release (depot) medications. The aim of this research is to develop medications that can block or significantly attenuate the psychoactive effects of such drugs as cocaine, nicotine, heroin, phencyclidine, and methamphetamine for weeks or months at a time. This represents a fundamentally new therapeutic approach that shows promise for treating drug addiction problems that were difficult to treat in the past. Despite their potential benefits, however, several characteristics of these new methods pose distinct behavioral, ethical, legal, and social challenges that require careful scrutiny. Such issues can be considered unique aspects of safety and efficacy that are fundamentally related to the distinct nature and properties of these new types of medications.

Today, most substance abuse treatment is administered by community-based organizations. If providers could readily incorporate the most recent advances in understanding the mechanisms of addiction and treatment, the treatment would be much more effective and efficient. The gap between research findings and everyday treatment practice represents an enormous missed opportunity at this exciting time in this field. Informed by real-life experiences in addiction treatment including workshops and site visits, Bridging the Gap Between Practice and Research examines why research remains remote from treatment and makes specific recommendations to community providers, federal and state agencies, and other decision-makers. The book outlines concrete strategies for building and disseminating knowledge about addiction; for linking research, policy development, and everyday treatment implementation; and for helping drug treatment consumers become more informed advocates. In candid language, the committee discusses the policy barriers and the human attitudesâ€"the stigma, suspicion, and skepticismâ€"that often hinder progress in addiction treatment. The book identifies the obstacles to effective collaboration among the research, treatment, and policy sectors; evaluates models to address these barriers; and looks in detail at the issue from the perspective of the community-based provider and the researcher.