NIDA/SAMHSA Blending Initiative

NIDA and SAMHSA have joined together to facilitate dissemination of research into clinical practice

According to the NIDA website, a 17-year gap exists between the publication of research results and its impact on treatment delivery. To combat this gap and facilitate dissemination of research into clinical practice, NIDA and SAMHSA have joined together to create the Blending Initiative. Blending teams comprised of NIDA researchers, community-based substance abuse treatment practitioners and trainers from SAMHSA's Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) Network work closely together to develop 'products' (e.g. training curricula, supervisory manuals) based heavily on research conducted within NIDA's Clinical Trials Network (CTN), as well as other research supported by NIDA.

The following 6 products have been produced by the blending initiative and are available for free to use in clinical practice via the website:

Buprenorphine Treatment for Young Adults
Buprenorphine Treatment: Training for Multidisciplinary Addiction Professionals
Short-term Opioid Withdrawal Using Buprenorphine: Findings and Strategies from a NIDA Clinical Trials Network (CTN) Study
Treatment Planning M.A.T.R.S.: Utilizing the Addition Severity Index (ASI) to Make Required Data Collection Useful
Motivational Interviewing Assessment: Supervisory Tools for Enhancing Proficiency (MIA:STEP)
Motivational Incentives Package: A Proven Approach to Treatment