Collaborative Perspectives on Addiction

Workshop: Treating Adolescent Substance Abuse: What Works and How Can We Do It?

Presenter:  Sarah W. Feldstein Ewing, PhD; University of New Mexico, Honors College/Center on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse, and Addictions
Continuing Education Credits: 4

Adolescence is an exciting period of development, as it inherently involves the exploration of identity, autonomy, sexuality, value systems and peer relationships. Further, during this period, adolescents often “try on” different facets of adult life, including experimentation with health risk behaviors, including alcohol, cigarette and cannabis use. This experimentation is facilitated by changes in adolescents' social environment, which becomes increasingly peer-dominated, and has an increasing presence of alcohol and cannabis use opportunities. While many youth continue to adulthood without consequence, the substance use patterns of many adolescents interfere with their academic progress, as well as their health, personal, and social development. This workshop presents an opportunity for us to explore the state of the art of adolescent addictions research, including current empirically supported interventions. In addition, this workshop includes hands-on experience practicing foundational skills in empirically supported intervention approaches (including motivational intervention and contingency management). Participants will depart with basic knowledge of, skills in, and resources to obtain further information in each clinical approach.

Friday, Feb. 28, 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
Pre-registration required ($75)

Discussion: Functional Integration at NIH and the Future of Research Funding

Key members of NIAAA and NIDA along with established researchers in Div. 28 and 50 have been invited to participate in a discussion on the implications of the NIH functional integration of the addiction research portfolio. The goal is to create an open dialogue and all researchers are welcome to join in the discussion. Pre-registration is required, but there is no cost to attend. We encourage submission of questions, concerns, or ideas prior to the session. Please email them to Katie Witkiewitz or Jennifer Buckman.

Friday, Feb. 28, 9-11 a.m. 
Free

Sandra A. Brown, PhD

Vice Chancellor for Research and Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego 

Brown is vice chancellor for research and a distinguished professor of psychology and psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego. Brown is internationally recognized for her developmentally focused alcohol and drug intervention research. She is the past-president of Div. 50 (Addictions) of the American Psychological Association, is on the executive board of numerous scientific organizations, and has over 320 publications. She is involved in addiction prevention and intervention at the regional, state and national levels and helped lead NIAAA’s effort to establish national screening guidelines for youth. She currently directs the National Consortium on Alcohol and Neurodevelopment in Adolescence. Brown’s research yielded pioneering information on adolescent addiction and the relapse process for youth, as well as long term outcomes for clinical samples of youth who have experienced alcohol and drug problems. Her current NIAAA-, NIDA-, and NIMH-funded research investigates neurocognitive impact of early alcohol and drug exposure, the processes whereby youth escalate or diminish their substance use with and without treatment, the role of psychiatric comorbidity in the treatment of alcohol and drug problems, and novel early intervention strategies to diminish substance problems among youth. She earned her PhD in clinical psychology at Wayne State University in 1981, and is licensed as a clinical psychologist by the California Board of Psychology.

 

Michael A. Nader, PhD

Professor of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Nader’s research interest began in the laboratory of Alice Young, PhD, at Wayne State University. He received his PhD in 1985 from the University of Minnesota, under the mentorship of Travis Thompson, PhD, and completed post-doctoral training in behavioral pharmacology at Uniformed Services University under the mentorship of James Barrett, PhD. In 1988, he moved to the University of Chicago, where William Woolverton, PhD, trained him in nonhuman primate models of cocaine abuse. Since 1992, Nader has been on the faculty in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, where he is professor. His research has focused on nonhuman primate models of drug abuse, combining brain imaging with behavioral methods to better understand how environmental (including social) and pharmacological variables influence addiction. His laboratory is the only one in the world studying socially housed monkeys (male and female) in intravenous drug self-administration studies. He has trained nine PhD students and four post-doctoral fellows. He has served on the board of directors of the CPDD, is past-chair of the Division of Behavioral Pharmacology at ASPET, and is currently a member of NIDA Council. Nader has a MERIT Award from NIDA.

Concurrent Sessions

Concurrent sessions do not require pre-registration and are included in the cost of registration. Continuing education will be provided for many of the sessions (see onsite program for distinction).

Friday, Feb. 28

Bringing Neuroscience Into Addiction Treatment Through Behavioral Interventions

2:15-3:45 p.m.
We trace the development of a new intervention termed Mental and Physical (MAP) Training from its origin in the animal lab, through basic human experimental research, to its clinical practice implementation. MAP training is based on mechanistic research including hippocampal neurogenesis in rodents. The human translation combines aerobic exercise with breathing meditation. EEG, HRV and psychological constructs are markers of disorder and behavior change. We end with a real-time demonstration of physiological meditation effects.

Marsha Bates, PhD; Brandon Alderman, PhD; David Eddie, MS; Tracey Shors, PhD; Edward Selby, PhD

Working At the Crossroads: Clinical Findings from a Combined Medication and Psychotherapy Trial for Co-Occurring PTSD and AUD

4-5:30 p.m.
This panel will present findings from a recently completed randomized clinical trial on the efficacy of a combined medication and psychotherapy treatment approach for co-occurring alcohol use disorder (AUD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Panelists will discuss promising findings from post-treatment and six month follow-up that highlight the benefits of integrative approaches to co-occurring AUD and PTSD. Panelists will facilitate the interpretation of aggregate findings with case vignettes and discussion of influential psychosocial factors.

Denise Hien, PhD; Lesia M. Ruglass, PhD; Teresa Lopez-Castro, PhD; Laura Eidlitz, EdM; Annelisa Pedersen, MPhil; Patricia Yoon, MA

Steps Toward Success As An Early Career Addiction Psychologist

4-5:30 p.m.
Navigating the waters of graduate school, post-doctoral fellowships and early career positions can be tremendously difficult. The goal of this panel discussion is to provide some examples of "success" in this process and to offer opportunities for discussion and questions from the audience regarding career choices, when to say "yes" or "no," and work-life balance. The panel will include four rising stars in the field of addiction psychology, as well as two experienced scientists.

Katie Witkiewitz, PhD; John F. Kelly, PhD; Ellen Walker, PhD; Bill Stoops, PhD; James Murphy, PhD; James MacKillop, PhD; Lara Ray, PhD

Saturday, March 1

Prescription Opioids: The Role of Efficacy, Pain Modalities, and Sex Differences in Reward States

9-10:30 a.m.
Sex-differences in pain sensitivity, opioid analgesia, and/or the reinforcing effects of opioids can be observed in both clinical and experimental settings. In this breakout session, the results of experimental studies in animals and in humans will be presented demonstrating that the type of opioid, the analgesic test, and the measures of reward can influence the magnitude and existence of sex differences and the potential for prescription opioid abuse.

Ellen Walker, PhD; Sandra Comer, PhD

Opioid Overdose: Intervention Efforts and Challenges

10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Unintentional fatal drug overdose (OD) is now the 2nd leading cause of accidental death in the general population. The opioid antagonist naloxone is a potent antidote to opioid OD that faces many challenges for widespread dissemination. This session will present data about patient knowledge of OD risks, a novel naloxone product to reverse OD, intervention efforts to disseminate naloxone to the community, and legal challenges to obtaining and prescribing naloxone for OD reversal.

Kelly Dunn, PhD; Daniel Wermeling, PharmD; Maya Doe-Simkins, MPH; Dan Bigg, CRADC

The Effects of Social Influence on Substance Use Behavior and Outcomes in Preclinical and Clinical Samples

1:15-2:45 p.m.
For several decades research has demonstrated the importance of social influence in the initiation and maintenance of substance use, but little work has been conducted from a multi-disciplinary perspective encompassing animal, behavioral neuroscience, and clinical research, potentially limiting our understanding of complex social factors. In this symposium we present three complimentary studies on peer influence and substance use in a variety of contexts, from animal models to experimental psychology/neuroimaging to relapse prevention.

Jodi Gilman, PhD; John F. Kelly, PhD; Allison Anacker, PhD

Enhancing Brief Alcohol Interventions Using Translational Research and Mechanisms of Change Approaches

3-4:30 p.m.
Brief motivational interventions (BMIs) have been shown to be efficacious in reducing heavy drinking and drug use among college students but typically generate small effect sizes, and there has been relatively little research aimed at enhancing intervention effects. This symposium will highlight recent developments in the BMI literature that point the way toward improved BMIs that are more closely tied to basic addiction science and focused on mechanisms of behavior change.

Ashley Dennhardt, PhD; Andrea R. Diulio, MS; Mark M. Silvestri, MS; James G. Murphy, PhD; Ali M. Yurasek, MS

Friday, Feb. 28

• 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.: Registration
• 8-11:45 a.m.: Pre-conference workshop*
• 9-11 a.m.: NIH Functional Integration Conversation*
• 12:45-2 p.m.: Keynote address from Michael Nader, PhD
• 2:15-3:45 p.m.: Bringing Neuroscience into Addiction Treatment Through Behavioral Interventions
• 4-5:30 p.m.:
  Option 1: Working at the Crossroads: Clinical Findings from a Combined Medication and Psychotherapy Trial for Co-occurring PTSD and AUD
  Option 2: Steps Toward Success as an Early Career Addiction Psychologist
• 5:30-7 p.m.: Posters/social hour
• 7-9 p.m.: Networking dinners

Saturday, March 1

• 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.: Registration
• 9-10:30 a.m.: Prescription Opioids: The Role of Efficacy, Pain Modalities, and Sex Differences in Reward States
• 10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m.:
  Option 1: Opioid Overdose: Intervention Efforts and Challenges
  Option 2: Rapid Fire Research Session 1
• 12:15-1:15 p.m.: Networking lunch
• 1:15-2:45 p.m.: The Effects of Social Influence on Substance Use Behavior and Outcomes in Preclinical and Clinical Samples
• 3-4:30 p.m.:
  Option 1: Enhancing Brief Alcohol Interventions Using Translational Research and Mechanisms of Change Approaches
  Option 2: Rapid Fire Research Session 2
• 4:30-5:30 p.m.: Keynote address from Sandra Brown, PhD
• 5:30-7 p.m.: Posters/social hour
• 7-9 p.m. Networking dinners

*Special registration required