For Release May 28, 2008

Blending Addiction Science and Treatment:
The Impact of Evidence-Based Practices on Individuals, Families, and Communities

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), a component of the National Institutes of Health, will convene a 2-day conference to explore how the latest scientific findings in drug abuse can fill the current gap between research and clinical treatment practices. The conference is part of NIDA's Blending Initiative, designed to stimulate engaging dialogue between those who work with substance abusers in communities with those engaged in the latest treatment research.

Targeting treatment professionals in the Ohio/Pennsylvania region, the Blending conference will equip participants with evidence based tools to use in their community-based practices, and will give treatment professionals an opportunity to share real-life challenges with researchers. The conference highlights NIDA's involvement as a crucial resource and partner for making the best drug addiction treatments available to those who need them.

For registration, please visit: http://www.sei2003.com/nida/blendingcinci/registration.asp

Interview opportunities with some of the world's top treatment researchers will be available. A full agenda and speaker list is available at: http://www.sei2003.com/nida/blendingcinci/topics.htm

Additional NIDA-related events open to media include a reception and screening of the HBO Emmy Award winning documentary, "Addiction," which was produced in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, NIDA, and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA); and a student conversation at Walnut Hills High School where NIDA Director Dr. Volkow will engage students in a practical discussion on drug abuse and addiction.

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 most 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 to inform policy and improve practice. Fact sheets on the health effects of drugs of abuse and further information on NIDA research can be found on the NIDA web site at http://www.drugabuse.gov.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) - The Nation's Medical Research Agency - includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary Federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov