What's New in the CTN Dissemination Library? 

	September 1, 2010 Three More CTN Articles Now Available for Free from PubMed Central. Nearly every month, a new set of articles from the CTN are made available for free, full-text, in PubMed Central (PMC), as per the NIH Public Access Policy, which requires all NIH-funded research be made freely available within a year of publication. When looking at articles in the CTN Dissemination Library, check under "How to Get the Article" on the left side of each display page to see if it is available in PMC. This month's new freely-available articles are: Motivational and Skills Training HIV/Sexually Transmitted Infection Sexual Risk Reduction Groups for Men -- Calsyn DA, Hatch-Maillette MA, Tross S, et al. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 2009;37:138-150. This paper presents the primary outcomes of CTN-0018, which evaluated the effectiveness of a motivational and skills training HIV/AIDS group intervention for men in substance abuse treatment, finding it more effective in reducing sexual risk than a standard, one-hour HIV education session. The Relationship Between Depression and Smoking Cessation Outcomes in Treatment-Seeking Substance Abusers -- Sonne SC, Nunes EV, Jiang H, et al. American Journal on Addictions 2010;19(2):111-8. This article reports on a secondary analysis of CTN-0009 that examined the effect of depression or history of depression on smoking cessation outcomes. Data suggests evaluation and treatment of depression may play an important role in smoking cessation. Agency Context and Tailored Training in Technology Transfer: A Pilot Evaluation of Motivational Interviewing Training for Community Counselors -- Baer SJ, Wells EA, Rosengren DA, et al. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 2009;37(2):191-202. This study evaluated a context-tailored training model that used standardized patient actors and role-play to determine if such a technique is effective in training counselors in new evidence-based practices (here, motivational interviewing). Outcomes suggest tailored training methods may not produce better results than traditional workshops.
September 1, 2010 Webinar: Clinical Interviewing Guidelines -- Sept 9, 1-3pm (EST) This is a two-hour online seminar providing clinical interviewing guidelines for research staff who conduct structured and semi-structured interviews in the CTN.  Topics will include general interviewing guidelines, issues related to interviewing participants with substance abuse problems, and specific procedures for administering assessments often utilized in the CTN.  To register for this webinar, CTN members can email ctntraining@emmes.com or ebuttrey@emmes.com.
	August 26, 2010 Pre-Steering Committee Dissemination Workshop, Sept 21, Bethesda, MD. Five presentations are planned for the third NIDA CTN Pre-Steering Committee Dissemination Workshop, scheduled for September 21, 2010 from 12-2pm. The workshops will highlight the work of three agencies that have implementing smoking cessation interventions and two that have disseminated and promoted the implementation of the Matrix Model of outpatient care. Please come to this event to hear about their innovative work and to exchange ideas with them! [view agenda]
August 12, 2010 Clinical Trials Network Treatment Effect and Assessment Measures (TEAM) Task Force Recommendations. In November 2008, the CTN Executive Committee approved the formation of the ad-hoc Treatment Effect and Assessment Measures (TEAM) Task Force to address two goals: 1) to develop a clinically meaningful outcome standard for drug use to be used in CTN clinical trials, and 2) to develop a set of key questionnaires and instruments to be used CTN-wide. This document represents the task force's recommendations. [read more]
	August 11, 2010 Smoking Cessation and Stimulant Treatment (S-CAST) Patient Brochure. Protocol CTN-0046, "Smoking Cessation and Stimulant Treatment (S-CAST): Evaluation of the Impact of Concurrent Outpatient Smoking Cessation and Stimulant Treatment on Stimulant-Dependence Outcomes," is currently recruiting participants. Their patient brochure, "S-CAST: Should I Join?" is now available at the NIDA CTN web site and in the CTN Dissemination Library: http://ctndisseminationlibrary.org/display/521.htm.
August 4, 2010 Two New CTN-Platform Studies Look at Staff Turnover in Community Treatment Programs. In-press at Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment are two articles by Lillian T. Eby and colleagues from the University of Georgia that examine staff turnover in CTPs, using the CTN as a research platform. The first, "Recovery at Work: The Relationship Between Social Identity and Commitment Among Substance Abuse Counselors" looks at the impact being in recovery themselves has on counselors' motivation and dedication to their work. The second, "How Serious of a Problem is Staff Turnover in Substance Abuse Treatment? A Longitudinal Study of Actual Turnover" is one of the first longitudinal studies of turnover in substance abuse treatment and found retention of both counselors and supervisors to be a significant problem in our field.
	July 29,2010 Time Line Follow Back (TLFB) Booster Webinar, Thurs. Aug 10, 1pm (ET) This one-hour online training course explains how the TLFB method, a calendar-based system, is used to collect substance use data, including drug and alcohol use, over a specified time period. The course will be taught by Aimee Campbell, PhD, MSW, a research scientist at the New York State Psychiatric Institute at Columbia University and is aimed at research staff responsible for using the TLFB method to collect participant information for the CTN protocols. To register for this webinar, send an email with your name and contact information to ctntraining@emmes.com. [view flyer]
July 28, 2010 Cost-Effectiveness of Extended Buprenorphine-Naloxone Treatment for Opioid-Dependent Youth: Data from a Randomized Trial. This in-press article in Addiction, by Daniel Polsky, Henry Glick, Jianing Yang, and colleagues, presents the outcomes from ancillary study CTN-0010-A-1, which estimated the cost, net social cost, and cost-effectiveness of long-term buprenorphine-naloxone treatment versus short-term detoxification for opioid addiction in adolescents/young adult. The analysis found that long-term treatment, being more successful, results in social and health care cost offsets that make it more cost-effective over the long-term than less-successful short-term detoxification. This finding suggests a role for health care insurance and/or public funding coverage of extended buprenorphine/naloxone treatment for opioid-dependent youth. [read more]
	July 28,2010 Reducing HIV-Related Risk Behaviors Among Injection Drug Users in Residential Detoxification. This article in AIDS and Behavior, by Robert Booth, Barbara Campbell, Susan Mikulich-Gilbertson, and colleagues, reports on the primary outcomes from protocol CTN-0017, which tested three interventions for injecting drug users to reduce their drug and sex risk behaviors (a two-session, HIV/HCV counseling and education model, a one-session therapeutic alliance intervention, and treatment as usual). Findings indicate that participation in detoxification was followed by significant decreases in drug injection and risk behaviors for up to six months; interventions added to standard treatment offered no improvement in risk behavior outcomes. [read more]
July 28, 2010 Substance Abuse Treatment Providers' Involvement in Research is Associated with Willingness to Use Findings in Practice. This 2010 article in Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, by Rogerio M. Pinto, Gary Yu, Anya Spector, and colleagues, used the publicly-available dataset for protocol CTN-0008 to examine the contribution of several factors (demographics, attitudes, and involvement in research) influencing substance abuse treatment providers' willingness to use research findings in practice. [read more]
	July 22,2010 Bridging the Gap Between Research and Practice -- National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network: The First Decade. This new 12-page brochure, developed by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), provides an overview of the first decade of research in the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network. It highlights several of the most successful protocols (buprenorphine, motivational incentives, etc.) and describes both the NIDA/SAMHSA Blending Initiative and the CTN Dissemination Library. [read more]
July 15, 2010 Men in Methadone Maintenance versus Psychosocial Outpatient Treatment: Differences in Sexual Risk Behaviors and Intervention Effectiveness from a Multisite HIV Prevention Intervention Trial. This 2010 article in Journal of Addictive Diseases, by Donald A. Calsyn, Aimee Campbell, Paul Crits-Christoph, and colleagues, examines the effectiveness of CTN-0018's intervention, Real Men Are Safe (REMAS), as a function of treatment program modality. The study found that REMAS was more effective in reducing risky sexual behavior for patients participating in psychosocial outpatient programs than for those in methadone maintenance. Reasons for this disparity are explored. [read more]
	July 14,2010 CTN Steering Committee Meeting, September 21-23, 2010 -- Registration Now Open! The fall CTN Steering Committee Meeting will take place at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, in Bethesda, Maryland, on September 21-23, 2010. To register and to obtain logistical and program information, please visit: http://www.seiservices.com/NIDA/CTN/Meetings/1025039/index.asp. While updating your calendars, please also save the date for the Spring 2011 CTN Steering Committee Meeting, which will take place in Bethesda, Maryland, on March 15-17, 2011. (From the CTN Bulletin, July 14, 2010)
July 13, 2010 Alterations in Brain Structure and Functional Connectivity in Prescription Opioid-Dependent Patients. This 2010 article in the journal Brain, by Jaymin Upadhyay, Nasim Maleki, Jennifer Sharpe Potter, and colleagues, reports on ancillary investigation CTN-0030-A-2, which examined data from the POATS study to determine the effects of long-term prescription opioid use on the brain. Findings suggest prescription opioid dependence is associated with structural and functional changes in the brain, including changes to the amygdala, as well as reward and motivational functions. [read more]
	July 12,2010 Disseminating Contingency Management to Increase Attendance in Two Community Substance Abuse Treatment Centers: Lessons Learned. This in-press article at Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, by Robrina Walker, Traci Rosvall, Craig Field, and colleagues, describes the procedures used by two community treatment programs in the Texas Node to adopt contingency management into their current treatment programs. In both clinics, the CM intervention was successfully implemented and had a positive impact on treatment group attendance for their clients. [read more]
July 12, 2010 Comparison of Opiate-Primary Treatment Seekers With and Without Alcohol Use Disorder. This article, written by Bryan Hartzler, PhD, Dennis Donovan, PhD, and Zhen Huang, and in-press at the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, details a secondary analysis (protocol CTN-0040-S) of data from 10 CTN protocols examining alcohol-related characteristics of opiate-primary clients, and comparing broad pretreatment characteristics of those with and without an alcohol use disorder. Findings suggest the need for detection of and intervention for alcohol misuse at the outset of opiate treatment. [read more]
	July 12,2010 EMMES Webinar: Addiction Severity Index (ASI) Interviewer Booster Event (July 27, 1-3pm EST). This four-hour online refresher course is intended to assure appropriate administration of the ASI, a standardized screening and assessment instrument. Training will include instructional highlights of each ASI section and guidance on questions not covered in the ASI Manual. The instruction will be Ron Jackson from Evergreen Treatment Services in Seattle (Pacific Northwest Node). To register for this webinar, send an email with your name and contact information to ctntraining@emmes.com. [view flyer]
July 11, 2010 Gender Specific Sexual Risk Reduction Interventions for Men and Women. This presentation by Dr. Donald Calsyn, developed for clinicians and presented at a Clinical Practices Research Symposium workshop, June 3, 2009, Portland, OR, provides a detailed overview of protocols CTN-0018 and CTN-0019, presenting the main findings from the two studies and ending with a demo from the "Safer Sex Skills Building (SSSB)" intervention evaluated by CTN-0019. [read more]
	June 28, 2010 Posters and Presentations from CPDD 2010, June 12-17, Scottsdale, AZ. The CTN Dissemination Library is currently collecting all CTN-related posters and presentations from the recent College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD) annual meeting. To submit your poster/presentation, simply email it to us at info@ctndisseminationlibrary.org. Meanwhile, here's what's already been added to the Library (watch this space for updates!): Adoption of HIV Counseling and Testing Following Completion of Randomized Clinical Trial by Haynes, Holmes, Amberg, et al. (CTN-0032) Agency Staff Perceptions of Problems Related to Methamphetamine and Other Drug Use in Native American Communities in the Four-Corners Region by Bogenschutz, Mondragon, Reid, et al. (CTN-0033-Ot-2) Concordance Between Self-Report and Urine Drug Screen Data in Adolescent Opioid Dependent Clinical Trial Participants by Nakazawa, Wilcox, Bogenschutz, et al. (CTN-0010) Counselor Attitudes toward Buprenorphine in the Clinical Trials Networkz by Knudsen and Roman. Craving Intensity and Withdrawal Severity Across Phases of Opioid Detoxification with Buprenorphine by Chen, Hillhouse, Doraimani, et al. (CTN-0003) Effects of Participant Compensation Amounts on Missing Data and Urine Screen Results Among Adolescent and Young Adult Opioid Dependent Clinical Trial Participants by Wilcox, Bogenschutz, Nakazawa, and Woody. (CTN-0010) HIV/AIDS-Related Health Services in Substance Abuse Treatment Programs [presentation] by Brown, Kritz, Bini, et al. (CTN-0012) Implementing Research in Community Treatment Programs: Findings from a CTN Trial by Cohen, George, Langlois, et al. (CTN-0027) Is the Association of Therapeutic Alliance with Days of Use Always Negative? by Forcehimes, Silve, Kosinski, et al. (CTN-0004, -0005, -0021) Never HIV Tested: Results of Screening Data from 12 Drug Treatment Programs in the CTN-0032 HIV Rapid Testing and Counseling Study [presentation] by Metsch, Mandler, Featers, et al. (CTN-0032) NIDA's Clinical Trials Network Can Facilitate Comparative Effectiveness Research on Drug Addiction Treatments by Ghitza, Sparenborg, Liu, and Tai. Predictors of Study Retention in Drug Abuse Treatment Trials by Korte, Magruder, Sonne, et al. Psychosocial and Substance Use Severity in Unemployed Patients Enrolled in Methadone Maintenance and Psychosocial Abstinence-Based Programs by Pickens, Keyser-Marcus, Sepulveda, et al. (CTN-0020) A Randomized Controlled Trial of OROS-MPH + CBT in Adolescents with ADHD and Substance Use Disorders [presentation] by Robert Davies. (CTN-0028) Retrospective Evaluation of ASAM Criteria in Adolescents Receiving Weekly Outpatient Treatment for Co-Occurring Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorders by Holmes, Haynes, Leimberger, and Riggs. (CTN-0028) START Study Retention: Perspectives of Suboxone Dropouts by Teruya, Thomas, Rosensteel et al. (CTN-0027) Use of Methamphetamine and Alcohol in Native American Communities by Houck, Daw, Forcehimes, et al. (CTN-0033-Ot-2)
June 25, 2010 A Randomized Controlled Trial of OROS-MPH + CBT in Adolescents with ADHD and Substance Use Disorders: Implications for Clinical Practice and Study Design. This presentation by Dr. Paula Riggs, presented at the New Clinical Drug Evaluation Unit (NCDEU) annual meeting in Boca Raton, FL (June 14-17, 2010), provides an overview of CTN-0028 (OROS-MPH for adolescents with substance use disorders), including the study outcomes and implications for future research on both OROS-MPH and cognitive behavioral therapy in this adoescents. [read more]
	June 18, 2010 EMMES Webinar: Recruitment and Retention Success (June 30, 1-3pm). This two-hour online webinar, presented by Laurel Hall from the University of Miami will focus on skills and tools needed to achieve successful recruitment and retention outcomes, while acknowledging and proactively addressing the complexities involved. Seminar participants will learn the importance of being flexible on every level to help sites recognize the barriers and maneuvering needed to adapt to differing environments. To register for this webinar, send an email with your name and contact information to ctntraining@emmes.com. [view flyer]
June 16, 2010 Gender Differences in the Rates and and Correlates of HIV Risk Behaviors Among Drug Abusers. This ancillary investigation of data from protocols CTN-0001, -0002, -0005, -0006, and -0007, in-press at Substance Use & Misuse and written by Audrey Brooks, Christina Meade, Jennifer Sharpe Potter, and colleagues, examines gender differences in the rates and correlates of HIV risk behaviors, finding that specific risk factors were differentially predictive of HIV risk behaviors for women and men. These results highlight the need for gender-specific risk-reduction interventions. [read more]
	June 9, 2010 Cutting Edge Addiction Treatment Tools from NIDA's Clinical Trials Network (Dissemination Workshop, Baltimore, MD, June 3-4, 2010). This two-day workshop, sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Node, was designed for treatment administrators, policy makers, and clinicians. Speakers presented on a wide variety of topics, focusing primarily on the scientific basis for selected evidence-based practices, providing concrete examples, the wisdom of lessons learned, and practical implementation guidance. A special track was designed to help administrators with creating programs, and another designed to help clinicians with implementation. Slides from the plenaries and workshops are now available in the library. [read more]
June 8, 2010 Association of Race and Ethnicity with Withdrawal Symptoms, Attrition, Opioid Use, and Side-Effects During Buprenorphine Therapy. This ancillary investigation of data from protocol CTN-0003 (Buprenorphine/Naloxone taper), published in the Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse by E. Sherwood Brown, Carlos Tirado, Abu Minhajuddin, and colleagues, examines racial/ethnic differences before and during stabilization with buprenorphine. Although ethnic and racial differences were observed prior to buprenorphine treatment, scores following buprenorphine treatment were similar between groups. These findings suggest an overall favorable treatment outcome for all three racial/ethnic groups during buprenorphine administration and suggest race/ethnicity may not play a major role in buprenorphine response and treatment retention. [read more]
	June 8, 2010 The Importance of the CTN (EMMES Webinar), June 23, 2010, 1pm (EST) This one-hour online webinar, presented by Dr. Betty Tai from NIDA, will provide an overview of how the wealth of data that has been generated from the CTN has influenced changes in health care. An overview of NIDA's major accomplishments and upcoming CTN goals will also be presented. To register for this webinar, send an email with your name and contact information to ctntraining@emmes.com. [view flyer]
May 27, 2010 The Role of Alcohol Misuse in PTSD Outcomes for Women in Community Treatment: A Secondary Analysis of NIDA's Women and Trauma Study. This in-press secondary analysis of the Women & Trauma protocol (CTN-0015), by Hien, Campbell, Ruglass, Hu, and Killeen (Drug and Alcohol Depencenc, 2010) examined individuals with comorbid substance use and posttraumatic stress disorder may differentially benefit from integrated trauma-focused interventions based on specific presenting characteristics such as substance use type and PTSD severity. Findings suggest that the Seeking Safety model may be a sound, first line clinical approach to managing PTSD among women with active alcohol misuse. [read more]
	May 27, 2010 Impact of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Treatment on Smoking Cessation Intervention in ADHD Smokers: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. This article, in press at the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, reports on the primary outcomes of protocol CTN-0029, which evaluated whether or not using osmotic-release methylphenidate (OROS-MPH) to treat ADHD enhances response to smoking cessation treatment in smokers with ADHD. Authors Theresa Winhusen, Eugene Somoza, Greg Brigham, and colleagues found that though ADHD treatment did not, in fact, improve smoking cessation success, OROS-MPH was effective in treating ADHD symptoms and was safe and generally well-tolerated. [read more]
May 27, 2010 Do Therapist Cultural Characteristics Influence the Outcome of Substance Abuse Treatment for Spanish-Speaking Adults? This secondary data analysis of protocol CTN-0021, by Lourdes Suarez-Morales, Steve Martino, Luis Bedregal, and colleagues (Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 2010) examined whether the degree of birthplace and acculturation similarities between clients and therapists, as well as the therapists' own level of acculturation and birthplace were related to the clients' participation in treatment and level of substance use during outpatient substance use treatment. The analysis found no correlation between acculturation and treatment effects, but did fine that level of acculturation in therapists seems to be related to Spanish-speaking clients' substance use patterns while in treatment. [read more]
	May 19, 2010 Substance Dependence and Co-Occurring Psychiatric Disorders: Best Practices for Diagnosis and Clinical Treatment. This book, developed out of discussions during meetings of the CTN Co-Occurring Disorders Special Interest Group, is the first comprehensive handbook to provide a full treatment of all the most common psychiatric conditions that typically co-occur with substance use disorders. It is an essential guide for everyone who treats addiction, including psychiatric clinicians, designed to help treatment providers develop and improve critical diagnostic skills and create coordinated treatment plans that achieve positive outcomes. [read more]
May 13, 2010 CTN 10th Anniversary Symposium! Congratulations on a decade of research, CTN researchers and clinicians! This symposium brought together the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), academic research leaders, and community-based service providers to look at how their partnership over the last 10 years has advanced the understanding and treatment of drug abuse and addiction. We are collecting presentations from the symposium to include in the CTN Library -- see what we have so far here: http://ctndisseminationlibrary.org/display/10anniversary.htm.
	May 13, 2010 2010 NIDA Blending Conference Presentations Coming In! The CTN Dissemination Library is now collecting all the CTN-related posters and presentations from the recent NIDA Blending Conference in Albuquerque, NM (April 22-23, 2010). If you have a poster or presentation from Blending that you'd like to submit to the Library, simply email it to us at info@ctndisseminationlibrary.org. Meanwhile, here are the posters and presentations we've added so far (watch this space for more as they roll in): POSTERS Adoption of Medication Treatment for Adolescent and Young Adult Opioid Dependence (Fishman, Khan, Garrett, et al) American Indian Perceptions of Methamphetamine and Other Drug Use Prevalence and Culturally Appropriate Treatment in a Southwestern Border Town (Venner, Forcehimes, Gentz, et al. Buprenorphine-Naloxone Dosing in a 12-Week Treatment Trial for Opioid-Dependent Youth: Secondary Analyses from a NIDA Clinical Trials Network Study (Weiss, Chakrabarti, Woody, et al) Clinical News They Can Use: Disseminating Practical Information from CTN Research to Providers in the Field (Harold Perl) Cost-Effectiveness of Extended Buprenorphine/Naloxone Treatment for Opioid Dependent Youth: Data from a Randomized Trial (Polsky, Glick, Yang, et al) Disseminating Contingency Management to Increase Attendance in Two Community Substance Abuse Treatment Centers: Lessons Learned ( Walker, Rosvall, Field, et al) Does Case Difficulty Compromise the Fidelity of Family Therapy for Substance-Using Adolescents? (Chialvo-Lebensohn, Hasler, Rohrbaugh, & Shoham) The Efficacy of Motivational Enhancement Therapy for African Americans (Montgomery, Burlew, Kosinski, & Forcehimes) Extended vs. Short-Term Buprenorphine/Naloxone for Treatment of Opioid-Addicted Youth (Woody, Poole, Subramaniam, et al) Feasibility of Conducting Genetics Research in Community Treatment Programs (Sonne, Gentilin, Sampson, et al) The Internal and External Impacts of the CTN: A View from a Longitudinal Platform Study (Roman, Abraham, Knudsen, et al) OROS-Methylphenidate or Placebo for Adult Smokers with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Racial/Ethnic Differences (Covey, Hu, Winhusen, et al) Predictors of Study Retention in Addiction Treatment Trials (Korte, Magruder, Killeen, et al) Staff Reports of Program Structure in Relation to Client Retention, Alliance, and Drug Alcohol Outcomes (McClure, Kulaga, Rotrosen, et al) PRESENTATIONS Buprenorphine Treatment of Prescription Opiate Addiction (John McCarthy) Relationships That Heal (William R. Miller)
May 11, 2010 Next National CTN Steering Committee Meeting: September 21-23, 2010. Save the date for the Fall National CTN Steering Committee Meeting, to be held this September 21-23 in Bethesda, MD. More information, including registration, and agenda and logistics, will be available once registration is open, July 12, 2010. Please visit the web site for updates: http://www.seiservices.com/nida/ctn/meetings/1025039/index.asp
	May 10, 2010 Survey of Eating Disorder Symptoms Among Women in Treatment for Substance Abuse. This new article in American Journal on Addictions, by Lisa Cohen, Shelly Greenfield, Susan Gordon, and colleagues, is about an ancillary investigation of CTN-0015 (Women and Trauma) that looked at the rates and impact of eating disorders on women presenting to addiction treatment. Results suggest that identification of eating disorder symptoms among treatment-seeking women with SUDs may be an important element in tailoring interventions and enhancing treatment outcomes. [read more]
May 6, 2010 Cutting Edge Addiction Treatment Tools From NIDA's Clinical Trials Network Mid-Atlantic CTN Regional Dissemination Workshop June 3-4, 2010 Radisson Hotel, Baltimore, MD http://www.ceattc.org This two-day training will offer plenary talks and hands-on workshops designed for successful implantation of evidence based practices in addiction treatment. Multiple tracks are designed for clinicians, program administrators, and policy makers. [Brochure] CEU: 15.5 NAADAC approved CEU available. Cost: $50 for 2-day workshop, includes continental breakfast & lunch both days Sponsored by: Mid-Atlantic Node of the NIDA Clinical Trials Network; Central East Addiction Technology Transfer Center; and the Maryland Alcohol & Drug Abuse Administration
	April 22, 2010 Buprenorphine Treatment for Young Adults (Blending Team Product). The Buprenorphine Treatment for Young Adults Blending Team product is a training package which highlights the findings of CTN-0010 (Bup/Nx-Facilitated Rehabilitation for Opioid Dependent Adolescents/Young Adults). The 3-hour training program examines nonmedical use of opioids among young adults and explores and describes the latest research on using buprenorphine in this population. [read more]
April 22, 2010 Clinical News They Can Use: Disseminating Practical Information from CTN Research to Providers in the Field. This 2010 Blending Conference poster by Harold Perl of the NIDA CCTN describes the three pathways used by the CTN to help determine the effectiveness of drug abuse treatments in the real world and then put these evidence-based findings as quickly as possible into the hands of clinicians who could make the best use of them: Research Utilization Committee (RUC) workgroups, RUC-sponsored Dissemination Workshops at Steering Committee meetings, and CTN-support Regional Dissemination Workshops around the country. [read more]
	April 21, 2010 HIV Risk Behavior in Treatment-Seeking Opioid-Dependent Youth: Results from a NIDA Clinical Trials Network Multisite Study. This in-press article in JAIDS, by Christina Meade, Roger Weiss, Garrett Fitzmaurice, and colleagues, describes an ancillary investigation of CTN-0010 that assessed baseline rates of and changes in HIV drug and sexual risk behavior as a function of gender and treatment in opioid-dependent youth. [read more]
April 14, 2010 Methamphetamine and Other Drugs (MOD) in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities (CTN-0033): Preliminary Report on the Process of MOD Research Partnerships between Community and Institutionally Based Researchers. This report by the CTN-0033 protocol team (edited by Harold Perl and Lisa Rey Thomas) describes the process followed by each of the participating nodes as they have developed their resaerch partnerships with American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) communities. Lessons learned and recommendations for others interested in ethical research with AIAN communites are also presented. [read more]
	April 13, 2010 Young Opioid Abusers Benefit from Extended Buprenorphine-Naloxone Treatment. This article in the newsletter NIDA Notes summaries the outcomes of protocol CTN-0010 which found that extended buprenorphine-naloxone treatment in adolescents and youth adults is safe and effective and expands the treatment options youths who are addicted to opioids, including prescription painkillers. [read more]
April 4, 2010 A Randomized Controlled Study of a Web-Based Performance Improvement System for Substance Abuse Treatment Providers. This new Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment article by Paul Crits-Christoph, Sarah Ring-Kurtz, Bridget McClure, et al, describes a study that used a number of CTN CTPs to evaluate the actual efficacy of the patient feedback system, studied in protocol CTN-0016. The study found that there was no evidence of an intervention effect on the primary drug and alcohol use scales. [read more]
	March 26, 2010 Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment Special Supplement -- A Decade of CTN Research. In honor of the CTN's 10th anniversary, JSAT presents "A Decade of Research by the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network." This special issue features overview articles describing the completed studies and outcomes from the past decade of CTN research. It also reviews several ancillary investigations, where data from original CTN protocols is examined in a new way to reveal new correlations and propose future research. [find the list of articles here]
March 13, 2010 OROS-Methylphenidate or Placebo for Adult Smokers with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Racial/Ethnic Differences. This in-press article in Drug and Alcohol Dependence, by Lirio Covey, Mei-Chen Hu, Theresa Winhusen, et al, describes a secondary analysis of data from protocol CTN-0029 exploring racial/ethnic differences in OROS-Methylphenidate efficacy when added to nicotine patch and counseling for treating nicotine dependence among smokers with ADHD. The analysis showed that OROS-Methylphenidate reduced ADHD symptoms and produced greater reductions in desire to smoke and withdrawal symptoms among the non-white than white participants. [read more]
	March 9, 2010 Provision of Ancillary Medications During Buprenorphine Detoxification Does Not Improve Treatment Outcomes. This new Journal of Addictive Diseases article, by Maureen Hillhouse, Catherine Domier, David Chim, and Walter Ling, describes a secondary analysis of data from CTN-0002 ("Buprenorphine/Naloxone versus Clonidine for Outpatient Opiate Detoxification") that investigated whether the provision of ancillary medications for opioid withdrawal symptoms affected treatment outcomes in participants receiving buprenorphine in a 13-day detoxification trial. Findings indicate ancillary medications (for nausea, insomnia, anxiety, etc.) did not increase opioid-free urines or retention in treatment. [read more]
March 8, 2010 Substance Use/Diagnosis and History of Childhood Sexual Assault Related to Increased Sexual Risk Behaviors Two articles about protocol CTN-0019 were recently published in The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse: Substance Use and High Risk Sexual Behaviors Among Women in Psychosocial Outpatient and Methadone Maintenance Treatment, by Susan Tross, Jennifer Hanner, Mei-Chen Hu, et al, addresses the connection between substance use/diagnosis and sexual risk behaviors, and finds that cocaine use was associated with more than twice the risk of engaging in risky sexual behaviors. Substance Use, Childhood Sexual Abuse, and Sexual Risk Behavior Among Women in Methadone Treatment, by Lisa Cohen, Susan Tross, Martina Pavlicova, et al, examines the connection between childhood sexual abuse and substance use as risk factors for unprotected sex among women, and determines that cocaine-using women with a history of childhood sexual abuse are at particularly high risk for having unprotected sex and should be specifically targeted for HIV prevention interventions.
	March 3, 2010 Data from CTN-0014 Now Available on the CTN Data Share Website. Study data from protocol CTN-0014, Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT) for Adolescent Drug Abusers, is now available for download and secondary analysis from the CTN Data Share website. This data is free and available to the public. Protocol CTN-0014 examined whether BSFT would be more effective than treatment as usual (TAU) in reducting adolescent drug use, as well as which of these treatment approaches did a better job of engaging adolescents and family members in treatment, decreasing problem behaviors, decreasing sexually risky behaviors, increasing positive social activities (e.g., school, work), and improving the functioning of the family. Download the data and study documents at the CTN Data Share site: http://www.ctndatashare.org/protocol-ctndatashare/new-protocols/NIDA-CTN-0014
February 24, 2010 Development of a Bibliography on Religion, Spirituality and Addictions. This 2007 article in Drug and Alcohol Review, by Cynthia Geppert, Michael Bogenshutz, and William R. Miller, describes the CTN Spirituality Research Interest Group's development of a comprehensive annotated bibliography of the literature on spirituality and addictions, intended to facilitate future research and scholarship on this topic. [read more]
	February 23, 2010 Two Posters about Native American Job Skills Training Added from the Southwest Node. New in the CTN Dissemination Library's digital collection are two posters about a CTN platform study performed by the Southwest Node that used a single-site adaption of the CTN-0020 Job Seekers Workshop study to examine employment issues for Native Americans in substance abuse treatment: Treatment History and Job Seeking Behaviors among Native Americans by Kevin Foley, Diane Pallas, Michael Bogenschutz, et al. Presented at the College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD) annual meeting, San Juan, Puerto Rico, June 14-19, 2008. Effect of Job Skills Training on Employment and Job Seeking Behaviors in a Native American Substance Abuse Treatment Sample by Michael Bogenschutz, Diana Pallas, Kevin Foley, et al. Presented at the Research Society on Alcoholism (RSA) and the International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism (ISBRA) joint conference, Washington D.C., June 27 - July 2, 2008
February 19, 2010 A Method to Diagnose Opioid Dependence Resulting from Heroin Versus Prescription Opioids Using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. This in-press article in Contemporary Clinical Trials, by Jennifer Sharpe Potter, Kristi Prather, Frankie Kropp, and colleagues, describes an innovative method used by the Prescription Opioid Addiction Treatment Study (POATS, protocol CTN-0030) to identify potential participants with DSM-IV opioid dependence resulting from prescription opioid use and not heroin use. The method, which uses the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI), is one of the only techniques developed thus far to help clinical researchers discriminate between primary prescription opioid users, primary heroin users, and users of both types of opioid. [read more]
	February 17, 2010 NIDA's Blending Initiative: "Blending" Addiction Research and Practice for Better Technology Transfer. This article from the magazine Counselor, adapted from a 2008 Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment paper, is by Tim Condon, Lucine Miner, Curtis Balmer, and Denise Pintello and describes the impetus behind the development of NIDA's Blending Initiative, as well as its goals for the future. [read more]
February 11, 2010 Two Posters Added to the CTN Dissemination Library from CTN-0003 and CTN-0018. Louise Haynes, MSW, of the Southern Consortium Node, sent in 2 posters from previous College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD) annual meetings. Increased Exposure to an HIV Risk Reduction Protocol Associated with a Reduction in Drug Abuse Severity by Haynes, Carter, Herrin, & Calsyn (CPDD 2008). This poster reports on whether participants in CTN-0018 who reduced their drug use were also more likely to reduce risky sexual behavior, and if the number of HIV prevention sessions attended enhanced this effect. Gender Differences at Presentation for Treatment-Seeking Opiate Dependence by Haynes, Carter, Back, Payne, and Hillhouse (CPDD 2009). In this poster, a secondary analysis of data from CTN-0003 examines gender-specific profiles with regard to substance use severity, craving, and impairment in associated areas of functioning, and finds significant differences between men and women.
	February 9, 2010 Effects of Buprenorphine and Hepatitis C on Liver Enzymes in Adolescents and Young Adults. This in-press article at Journal of Addiction Medicine, by Michael Bogenschutz, Patrick Abbott, Robert Kushner, et al, explores changes in transaminase values associated with buprenorphine treatment and hepatitis C status among opioid dependent subjects aged 15-21 participating in protocol CTN-0010. [read more]
February 9, 2010 Three New Articles in American Journal on Addictions. New articles about Protocols CTN-0009, CTN-0018, and CTN-0030 are in press in the American Journal on Addictions: The Relationship Between Depression and Smoking Cessation Outcomes in Treatment-Seeking Substance Abusers by Susan Sonne, Edward Nunes, Huiping Jiang, et al. This article reports on a secondary analysis of data from CTN-0009 evaluating the effect of depressive symptomatology or history of depression on smoking cessation outcomes. Sex Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol: Common for Men in Substance Abuse Treatment and Associated with High Risk Sexual Behavior by Don Calsyn, Sarah Cousins, Mary Hatch-Maillette, et al. This article about CTN-0018 finds that sex is a strong relapse trigger for a variety of substances and that, therefore, patients might benefit from interventions targeting sexual behavior and substance use as mutual triggers. Conducting Clinical Research with Prescription Opioid Dependence: Defining the Population by Roger Weiss, Jennifer Sharpe Potter, Marc L. Copersino, et al. A key methodological challenge for research on prescription opioid use involves defining the population. This paper describes various inclusion criteria considered by the CTN-0030 study team related to heroin use and pain management.
	February 3, 2010 The Adoption of Alcohol Pharmacotherapies in the Clinical Trials Network: The Influence of Research Network Participation. This in-press article at Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, by Amanda Abraham, Hannah Knudsen, and colleagues, examines the adoption of alcohol use pharmacotherapies by treatment programs participating in the CTN to determine if simply participating in a research network encourages organizations to adopt more evidence-based treatments in general (not specific to research they were involved in directly). [read more]
February 2, 2010 A Multi-Site, Two-Phase, Prescription Opioid Addiction Treatment Study (POATS): Rationale, Design, and Methodology. This article, in press at Contemporary Clinical Trials and written by Roger Weiss, Jennifer Potter and colleagues, describes the design and methods for CTN protocol CTN-0030, the Prescription Opioid Addiction Treatment Study (POATS). This study was launched in response to rising rates of prescription opipoid dependence and took place at 10 community treatment programs around the United States. The study included two phases of treatment, the second phase aimed at participants who relapsed after Phase 1. POATS was developed to determine what benefit, if any, Enhanced Medical Management (EMM) offers over Standard Medical Management (SMM) in short-term and longer-term treatment paradigm. [read more]
	February 2, 2010 Methodological Innovation to Increase the Utility and Efficiency of Psychotherapy Research for Patients with Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders. This article in Professional Psychology: Research and Practice (Denise Hien et al) uses a hybrid model study conducted within the National Institute on Drug Abuse's Clinical Trials Network, CTN-0015 ("Women's Treatment for Trauma and Substance Use Disorders") to illustrate the application of a more flexible research design while also illuminating the inefficiency of the traditional linear stage model of behavioral therapy given the diversity of population, predictably irregular treatment participation, and relevance of training and supervision implementation issues. [read more]
January 22, 2010 Workshop on Methods for Disseminating Evidence-Based Treatments from the Frontlines of Community Treatment Programs. Video of a workshop held at the CTN Steering Committee meeting, Bethesda, MD, March 24, 2009. This 2-hour workshop, organized by the CTN Research Utilization Committee, highlighted different methods CTPs have used to disseminate evidence-based treatment into their practice settings, with presentations from 5 CTPs and the CTN Dissemination Library. CE available: For a small fee, 3 NAADAC contact credit hours are available from the National Office of the Addiction Technology Transfer Center, upon viewing the video and taking a short quiz. [read more]
	January 4, 2010 The Alliance in Motivational Enhancement Therapy and Counseling as Usual for Substance Use Problems. This ancillary investigation of data from protocol CTN-0004, published in Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology and written by Paul Crits-Christoph, Robert Gallop, Christina Temes, and colleagues, examines questions about the role of the alliance in Motivational Enhancement Therapy and counseling as usual. [read more]
December 16, 2009 Reducing Sex Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol for Patients in Substance Abuse Treatment. This in-press Addiction article, by Donald Calsyn, Paul Crits-Christoph, and colleagues, reports on the outcomes of the secondary aim of the REMAS study (protocol CTN-0018): to reduce the frequency with which men engage in sex under the influence of drugs or alcohol (SUI). The study found that REMAS, an intensive skills-based HIV prevention intervention, was associated with greater reduction of SUI among men in substance abuse treatment compared to standard HIV education at the 3 month follow-up. The REMAS intervention has now been shown to reduce both the number of unprotected sexual intercourse occasions and SUI events, highlighting the effectiveness of HIV prevention interventions in substance abuse treatment settings that go beyond the typical informational-focused interventions. [read more]
	December 16, 2009 Data for CTN-0029 Released on CTN Public Data Share Site The data files for protocol CTN-0029, "A Pilot Study of Osmotic-Release Methylphenidate in Initiating and Maintaining Abstinence in Smokers with ADHD," have now been released on the CTN Public Data Share site. Also available are the study protocol documents, annotated CRFs, and additional study information. [access the data]
December 10, 2009 Do Treatment Improvements in PTSD Severity Affect Substance Use Outcomes? A Secondary Analysis from a Randomized Clinical Trial in NIDA's Clinical Trials Network. This in-press American Journal of Psychiatry article, by Denise Hien, Huiping Jiang, Aimee Campbell et al, describes a secondary analysis of data from CTN-0015 examining the temporal course of improvement in symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder among women in outpatient substance abuse treatment. The analysis found that reductions in PTSD severity were more likely to be associated with substance use improvement, with only minimal evidence supporting the opposite effect (substance use symptom reduction improving PTSD symptoms). [read more]
	December 9, 2009 Methodological Innovation to Increase the Utility and Efficiency of Psychotherapy Research for Patients with Co-occuring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders. This article in the journal Professional Psychology: Research and Practice (by Denise Hien, Aimee Campbell, Lisa Cohen) uses protocol CTN-0015 to illustrate a hybrid model research design that allows for a systematic yet nonlinear relationship between efficacy and effectiveness designs. Hybrid model designs can maximize external validity and yield many meaningful results, while also maximizing cost-effectiveness. [read more]
December 9, 2009 Relationship Power and Sexual Risk among Women in Community-Based Substance Abuse Treatment. This article in the Journal of Urban Health, by Aimee Campbell, Susan Tross, Shari Dworkin, et al, explores the association between sexual relationship power and unprotected vaginal or anal sex using baseline data from CTN-0019. Findings show a complex picture of of the association between power and sexual risk in this population, with a main effect in the hypothesized direction for decision-making dominance but not for relationship control. [read more]
	December 2, 2009 Predictors of Buprenorphine-Naloxone Dosing in a 12-Week Treatment Trial for Opioid-Dependent Youth: Secondary Analyses from a NIDA Clinical Trials Network Study. This article by Amit Chakrabarti, George Woody et al (in press, Drug and Alcohol Dependence) reports on an ancillary investigation of CTN-0010 examining baseline patient characteristics to predict dosing of buprenorphine-naloxone, a promising treatment for opioid addiction in youths. [read more]