Addiction Resources

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Addiction Treatment Forum

AT Forum Web Site Addiction-News Updates
Monthly news items on addiction, medical research, public policies, and other topics of interest compiled from journals, news media, and other sources.

January/February 2007 (MS Word File KB) 11i.doc
November/December 2006 (MS Word File 121KB) 11h.doc
September/October 2006 (MS Word file101KB) 11g.doc
July/August 2006 (MS Word file 167KB) 11f.doc
May/June 2006 (MS Word file 92KB) 11e.doc
March/April 2006 (MS Word file 241KB) 11d.doc
January/February 2006 (MS Word file 86KB) 11c.doc
November/December 2005 (MS Word file 93KB) 11b.doc
September/October 2005 (MS Word file 92KB) 11a.doc
May 2004 thru August 2005 (MS Word file 721KB) WEBVOL_10.doc (PDF file 531KB) WEBVOL_10.pdf
July 2003 thru April 2004 (MS Word file 444KB) WEBVOL_9.doc
September 2002 thru June 2003 (MS Word file 456KB) WEBVOL_8.doc
November 2001 thru August 2002 (MS Word file 632KB) WEBVOL_7.doc
January 2001 thru October 2001 (MS Word file 422KB) WEBVOL_6.doc
March 2000 thru December 2000 (MS Word file 497KB) WEBVOL_5.doc
May 1999 thru February 2000 (MS Word file 505KB) WEBVOL_4.doc
July 1998 thru April 1999 (MS Word file 351KB) WEBVOL_3.doc
August 1997 thru June 1998 (MS Word file 303KB) WEBVOL_2.doc
June 1996 thru March 1997 (MS Word file 215KB) WEBVOL_1.doc

Addiction Treatment Forum; Brainstorms - Series 1-8, 1999-2001
by Stewart B. Leavitt, Editor, (PDFfile 334KB) Brainstorms 1-8.PDF

1. The Blind Men & The Elephant (Vol. 8, No. 3, Summer 1999)
2. Self-Medication Pathways of Addiction (Vol. 8, No. 4, Fall 1999)
3. The Hijacked Brain (Vol. 9, No. 1, Winter 2000)
4. Spiritual Roads to Recovery (Vol. 9, No. 2, Spring 2000)
5. Addiction and the Duress of Stress (Vol. 9, No. 3, Summer 2000)
6. The Shifting Sands of Opioid Addiction & Treatment (Vol. 9, No. 4, Fall 2000)
7. The Hijacked Brain Revisited (Vol. 10, No. 1, Winter 2001)
8. The Voices of Dissent (Vol. 10, No. 2, Spring 2001)

Addiction Treatment Forum, Liver Disease in MMT: Treatment & Transplant – Part 1-4
by Stewart B. Leavitt, Editor, (PDF file 244KB) Liver Dis in MMT.PDF
Part 1 : Critical Concerns (Vol 10, No. 4, Fall 2001)
Part 2 : Hepatitis C - A "Giant Silent Killer" (Vol.11, No. 1, Winter 2002)
Part 3: MMT Clinics' Roles in HCV Therapy (Vol. 11, No. 2, Spring 2002)
Part 4: Hope for Liver Transplantation (Vol. 11, No. 3, Summer 2002)
Survey Results - Liver Disease Fate (Vol. 11, No. 2, Spring 2002)

The Safety of Methadone, LAAM, Buprenorphine
Full research report by Stewart B. Leavitt, Ph.D. Editor (MS Word file) Also see, ATForum, Spring 2001; 10(2) AE Report Final.doc

Methadone Maintenance Treatment in the Criminal Justice System
by Stewart B. Leavitt, Ph.D. (PDF file 1,364KB) Justice WP.pdf

The merits and effectiveness of addiction treatment in the criminal justice system and methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) for opioid addiction, in particular, have not been universally understood and accepted. However, criminal justice populations are in critical need of treatment for opioid addiction and most still do not have access to it. This paper focuses on well-established evidence and credible commentary to provide a current and balanced perspective on MMT within court, jail, and prison settings.

A Community-Centered Solution for Opioid Addiction -
Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT)
by Stewart B. Leavitt, Ph.D. (PDF file 2200KB) Community_WP.pdf

Naltrexone in the Prevention of Opioid Relapse
Research report by Stewart B. Leavitt, Ph.D., Editor (PDF file 124KB) NTX-Opioid.pdf

Evidence for the Efficacy of Naltrexone in the Treatment of Alcohol Dependence (Alcoholism)
Research report by Stewart B. Leavitt, Ph.D., Editor (PDF file 140KB) Naltrexone White Paper.pdf

Methadone Prescribing and Safety

Methadone Dosing & Safety in the Treatment of Opioid Addiction
By Stewart B. Leavitt, PhD (PDF file 312KB) Dosing and Safety WP.pdf

Clinical Diagnostic Tool for Guiding Methadone Treatment of Opioid Addiction
ODAS - Opiate Dosage Adequacy Scale... from Heroin Addiction & Related
Clinical Problems. 2004;6(3)39-49. Distributed with permission of the journal.
(PDF file 452KB) ODAS - Defining Adequate Methadone.pdf

Cardiac Considerations During MMT [html]
By Stewart B. Leavitt, MA, PhD & and Mori J. Krantz, MD, FACC, 2003(Dec)
(PDF file 200KB) Cardiac Considerations White Paper.pdf

Methadone's Role in Torsade de Pointes Questioned

Research report by Stewart B. Leavitt, MA, PhD, 2002(Sep)

(PDF file 250KB) Methadone's Role in TdP.pdf

Does Methadone Maintenance Treatment Affect Heart Health?
Research report by Stewart B. Leavitt, MA, PhD, 2001(Jun)

(PDF file 88KB) Methadone & Heart Health.pdf

Methadone-Drug* Interactions
(*Medications, illicit drugs, & other substances)
3rd Edition – November 2005 – Revision/Update
By Stewart B. Leavitt, PhD
Available only as PDF Download
(PDF file size 660KB) .Methadone-Drug*Interactions

Drug Screening & Testing

SAM in MMT* (*Substance-Abuse Monitoring in Methadone Maintenance Treatment).
A 12-page, evidence-based AT Forum White Paper discussing how drug screening and testing can be vital therapeutic tools supporting rehabilitation and recovery from opioid addiction. Released in April 2005.
(PDF file 356KB) SAM in MMT - FINAL April 2005.pdf

SAM in MMT - SUPPLEMENT
A companion to the SAM in MMT paper (above) providing supplemental technical information and tables, including: 1) Terms defining drug screen/test performance; 2) Understanding cutoff values of drug screens; 3) Cutoff levels, detection times, X-reactivity; 4) How typical on-site drug screening devices work. Released in July 2005.
(PDF file 467KB) SAM in MMT - SUPPLEMENT.pdf

Federal Workplace Drug Testing. From Department of Health & Human Services released in April, 2004 (PDF file 502KB) FederalWorkplaceDrugTesting-2004.pdf

Oral Fluid Testing in MMT. From CSAT released in July, 2003
(PDF file 528KB) OralFluidTestinginMMT-CSAT2003.pdf

Evidence Based Addiction Medicine Resources

Can Addiction Research Be Trusted?
Introducing EBAM* (*Evidence Based Addiction Medicine). A 6-page easy-to-follow guide discussing basic principles of effective research to help readers understand what to look for and how to interpret research articles and reports. - Stewart B. Leavitt, Ph.D., Editor (PDF file) EBAM_6_Pager.pdf

EBAM* For Practitioners (*Evidence-Based Addiction Medicine)
A more extensive 16-page booklet presenting essential concepts for assessing the validity of research, understanding the relevance of statistics, and interpreting the significance of results for everyday practice in addiction medicine. - Stewart B. Leavitt, Ph.D., Editor (PDF file) EBAM_16_Pager.pdf

EBAM AATOD Slides final version
PowerPoint slide presentation from the April 15th, 2003 ATTOD Workshop Presentation in Washington D.C. This slide presentation is based upon the 6-page "Can Addiction Research Be Trusted?" guide. (PowerPoint ppt file) EBAM_AATOD.ppt

Drug Interactions

Drugs That Prolong the QT Interval and/or Induce Torsades de Pointes
(as of September, 2002) (PDF file 48KB) QT Drugs 9-3-02.pdf

Cytochrome P450 Drug Interaction Table(PDF file 56K) P450 Drug Interaction Table.pdf

Government Resources

CSAT TIP 43 (MAT-TIP) (Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Addiction in Opioid Treatment Programs) November 2005
PDF file (1.33MB) CSAT TIP 43 (MAT-TIP)

Methadone-Associated Mortality: Report of a National Assessment. From CSAT/DPT; released in February 2004. (PDF file 428KB) CSAT-MAM_Final_rept.pdf

Consensus Statement on Evaluation of Outcomes of Pharmacotherapy for Substance Abuse Dependence; Report from a NIDA/CPDD MEETING held in Washington, DC April 23-24, 1999 (PDF file 168KB) Addcn Pharm Goals.pdf

CSAT - Executive Summary - Improving Substance Abuse Treatment: The National Treatment Plan Initiative November 2000 (PDF file 292KB) Natxplan1.pdf

CSAT - Improving Substance Abuse Treatment: The National Treatment Plan Initiative November 2000 (PDF file 902KB) CSAT Natl Tx Plan.pdf

Methadone Regulations
Federal Register; January 17, 2001 [21 CFR Part 291; 42 CFR Part 8; Opioid Drugs in the Maintenance and Detoxification Treatment of Opiate Addiction; Final Rule]. (PDF file 529KB) Methadone Fed Regs.pdf

Methadone Medical Maintenance Manual
David A. Fiellin, Michael V. Pantalon, Patrick G. O'Connor. This manual describes procedures involved in the delivery of Medical Management (MM) of methadone maintenance treatment by a trained physician in a primary care setting. (PDF file 49KB) Methadone Med Mgmt.pdf

NIDA - Epidemiologic Trends in Drug Abuse, December 2001, Community Epidemiology Work Group (PDF file 798KB) NIDA Drug Trends.PDF

NIDA - Stress & Substance Abuse; Community Drug Alert Bulletin
(PDF file 122KB) NIDA Stress Alert.PDF

ONDCP - Drugs In America
Statistics, budgets, and goals, 2002 update (PowerPoint Presentation 2,209KB) Drugs in America.ppt

US Department of Justice - Defining Drug Courts: The Key Components
January 1997 (PDF file 2,209KB) Drug Courts.pdf

Hepatitis, HIV/AIDS

AASLD PRACTICE GUIDELINE - Diagnosis, Management, and Treatment of Hepatitis C
By Doris B. Strader, Teresa Wright, David L. Thomas and Leonard B. Seeff.
(PDF file 328KB) AASLD_HCV_Guirader_et_al.pdf

Addiction Treatment Forum, Liver Disease in MMT: Treatment & Transplant – Part 1-4
by Stewart B. Leavitt, MA, PhD, Editor, (PDF file 244KB) Liver Dis in MMT.PDF
Part 1 : Critical Concerns (Vol 10, No. 4, Fall 2001)
Part 2 : Hepatitis C - A "Giant Silent Killer" (Vol.11, No. 1, Winter 2002)
Part 3: MMT Clinics' Roles in HCV Therapy (Vol. 11, No. 2, Spring 2002)
Part 4: Hope for Liver Transplantation (Vol. 11, No. 3, Summer 2002)
Survey Results - Liver Disease Fate (Vol. 11, No. 2, Spring 2002)

CDC - Epidemiology and Prevention of Hepatitis B
"Pink Book" 2002, pp 169-176 (PDF file 2,085 KB) CDC HBV Pink Book.pdf

CDC - Control and Prevention of Hepatitis A
MMWR, 1998 (PDF file 733KB) Hepatitis A.pdf

Injection Drug Use and HIV/AIDS
Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, 1999 (PDF file 927KB) IDU and AIDS.pdf

NIDDK - Chronic Hepatitis C; Current Disease Management
(PDF file 120KB) NIDDK HCV Guide.PDF

NIH: Management of Hepatitis C: 2002
NIH Concensus Development Conference Statement - Final, August 26, 2002
(PDF file 310KB) NIH HCV Cons 2002 Final.pdf

Methadone & Addiction Treatment

EUROPAD Journal

Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems, the official journal of EUROPAD (European Opiate Addiction Treatment Association), is a peer-reviewed publication for professionals wanting to stay informed of research and opinion on opioid misuse treatment in Europe and around the world. A particular emphasis is on medication-assisted treatments for opioid addiction. Full copies of the journal dating back to its inception in 1999 are available for free download as PDF documents.
Go to journal listings...>

Professional Perspectives on Addiction Medicine:
Understanding Opioid Addiction and the Function of Methadone Treatment

This 125-page book from Santa Clara Valley Health & Hospital System, San Jose, CA, covers all the basics for clinic staff, patients, community leaders, criminal justice system authorities, and interested others. Presents easy to follow and authoritative information. Newly revised in November 2006.

Download complete book PDF (682KB) MMT_book_2006.pdf.

Drug Misuse and Dependence – Guidelines on Clinical Management
Department of Health, Northern Ireland, 1999 (PDF file 783KB) UK Methadone Guidelines.pdf

Methadone Treatment Works:
A Compendium For Methadone Maintenance Treatment. Monograph Series Number 2, December 1994, A Monograph of The Chemical Dependency Research Working Group The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (PDF file 265KB) CDRWG Mono 2.PDF

Methadone Patients and the Treatment of Pain
Section from CDRWG Monograph 2, December 1994; Payte JG, Khuri K, Joseph H, Woods J.
(MS Word Doc 48KB) MMT & Pain Mgmt.doc

Physician Leadership on National Drug Policy (PLNDP); Position Paper
(PDF file 337KB) PLNDP Paper.pdf

Toward a New Recovery Movement:
Historical Reflections on Recovery, Treatment and Advocacy by William L. White, April 2000 (PDF file 96KB) Recovery Movmnt.pdf

When "Enough" is Not Enough: New Perspectives on Optimal Methadone Dose
Stewart B. Leavitt, Marc Shinderman, Sarz Maxwell, Chin B. Eap, Phil Paris; Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine; 2000 (PDF file 91KB) Enough.pdf

Does Methadone Formulation Make A Difference?
A.T.Forum Historical Note; February 2003 (PDF file 36KB)
MethadoneFormulation.pdf

Psychiatric Disorders

Major Depression, Panic Disorder, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Adults
ICSI Health Care Guideline, 1999 (PDF file 346KB) Anxiety Disorders.pdf

Depressive and Bipolar Mood Disorders
May 2000 (PDF file 166KB) Depression-Bipolar Disorders.PDF

Stress, the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis, and Vulnerability to Drug Abuse
by Nick E. Goeders (PDF file 131KB) Stress & Addiction.pdf

Books & Booklets of Interest

(Unless otherwise stated, most books are available from www.amazon.com and other on-line booksellers.)

Updated Methadone Maintenance Primer for Patients from DPA

About Methadone and Buprenorphine is a revised (2006) 50-page booklet from the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) that covers most of the questions patients and their loved ones might have about methadone maintenance treatment. There also is a brief discussion on buprenorphine, added in this 2nd edition. Written in nontechnical language, it gives facts, dispels myths, and also provides helpful tips on such topics as traveling with methadone, storing the drug, concerns about overdose, and much more.

To obtain copies, contact the Drug Policy Alliance at 212-613-8020; e-mail to methadone@drugpolicy.org; or <click here> to visit the DPA publications library where you can download a PDF file copy of the booklet.

Updated November 2006

3rd Edition of Classic Text from ASAM

ASAM (American Society of Addiction Medicine) has completely updated and revised its massive compendium of knowledge for the field – Principles of Addiction Medicine, 3rd Edition - 2003

.At 1,400 pages, this new edition is even larger than before and it now includes 120 chapters of the latest evidence-based and clinically relevant information. There are more than 10,000 supporting references.

Every chapter has been either updated, rewritten, or is entirely new. Some sections, such as those on pharmacologic interventions, medical disorders and complications, and pain and addiction are significantly expanded. Keeping up with the latest treatment modalities, a new chapter on office-based opioid therapy (OBOT) has been added, and there are forward-looking discussions of such pharmacotherapies as buprenorphine and acamprosate.

Full citation: AW Graham, TK Schultz, M Mayo-Smith, RK Ries, eds. and Bonnie B. Wilford Principles of Addiction Medicine, Third Edition-2003. Chevy Chase, MD: American Society of Addiction Medicine, Inc.; 2002 [ISBN No. 1-880425-08-4].

To order, call ASAM: 1-800-844-8948; or e-mail to: Email@asam.org. Final cost to be announced at press time ( $222.88 for nonmembers including shipping charges). See also: http://www.asam.org/.

Updated February 2005

Guide to Treating Drug Emergencies

Drug and Alcohol Abuse: A Clinical Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment; 5th ed., Marc A. Schuckit, MD provides an overview of drug classifications and mechanisms, and covers the pharmacology and mental/physical effects of alcohol, depressants, stimulants, opioids, hallucinogens, cannabis, and more. Most critical, there is an emphasis throughout the book on how to deal with emergency medical problems related to drug abuse, addiction, and overdose.

This latest edition of the book includes a 70% updating of reference material with a focus on recent developments in pharmacotherapy, plus an all new chapter on prevention. Schuckit recommends skimming all of the chapters covering the many drug classes. From there, the book can serve as a handbook, kept nearby for easily-accessed advice on dealing with drug-related crises or confirming suspected drug-induced symptomatology appearing in clinical settings.

Drug and Alcohol Abuse: A Clinical Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment; 5th ed. is from Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers; New York (ISBN 0306462303, 2000, 380 pp). Available online from www.amazon.com ($49.95 + shipping) and at other booksellers

Updated February 2005

.Recovery Options Examined

Recovery Options: The Complete Guide by Joseph Volpicelli, MD, PhD and Maia Szalavitz provides an in-depth look at the many ways to view alcoholism and other drug addictions, and an overview of addiction treatment research, modalities, and pharmacotherapies.

The outlook in this book is extremely well-balanced, without lobbying for any particular treatment approach as a one-size-fits-all solution.In fact, the "Penn Paradigm," which Volpicelli advocates, stresses that "it is what the patient considers important, not what the treatment program is pushing, that matters." The underlying posture of the entire book is, "Patients given a menu of treatment options do significantly better than those who are simply told what to do." Patients, or prospective patients, also will greatly benefit from this book, as denoted by its subtitle: How You and Your Loved Ones Can Understand and Treat Alcohol and Other Drug Problems.

Recovery Options: The Complete Guide from Wiley books is available at local bookstores (ISBN 0-471-34575-X, 2000, paperback, 300 pp, $15.95), or from http://www.amazon.com/ ($10.95 plus shipping) and other online booksellers.

Updated February 2005

Practical Advice Offered by Pair of Addiction Books

A pair of very reasonably priced books by Australian addiction treatment specialist Andrew Byrne, MD offers much of value for professional and lay audiences:

Methadone in the Treatment of Narcotic Addiction - is a good read for physicians and other health care workers interested in a broad understanding of addiction and methadone maintenance. Byrne presents his experiences gathered from over a decade of practice in the field in a straightforward, fact-filled manner. [96 pages; $14 US, includes postage]

Addict in the Family - is a reference for persons addicted to substances of abuse, and for their relatives and friends. It provides a practical, no nonsense guide for better understanding drug abuse and the various treatment options available. (88 pages; $9 US, includes postage)

Contact: Tosca Press; 75 Redfern St.; Redfern, NSW, 2016, Australia
Fax: 61 2 9318 0631; Email: ajbyrne@ozemail.com.au

Updated February 2005

Counselor Text on Dual Diagnoses

David F. O'Connell, PhD, psychotherapist and clinical director of a leading addiction treatment facility, has written an important book for all addiction counselors and associated staff. Dual Disorders: Essentials for Assessment and Treatment will help health care professionals become better diagnosticians, develop improved treatment plans, and communicate more meaningfully with other mental health professionals. Soft cover (250pp), ISBN: 0-7890-0401-1, $34.95 (US$). Haworth Press: 1-800-429-6784; outside US/Canada 607-722-5857; http://www.haworthpressinc.com/.

Updated February 2005

PDR Publisher Offers Herbal Guide

PDR for Herbal Medicines is a guide aimed at giving health care workers unbiased data to guide patients who may be taking such alternative therapies. The book is from the publishers of the Physician's Desk Reference (PDR). ISBN 1-5636-3292-6, $59.95 (800pp); Medical Economics Company, Montvale, New Jersey; 1-800-PDR-9206.

Updated February 2005

Book Ties Together Neuroscience & Behavior

Drug Addiction and Its Treatment: Nexus of Neuroscience and Behavior, edited by Bankole Johnson and John Roache, proposes that the behavioral and neuroscience disciplines would benefit from a mutual understanding of each other's technology. It suggests ways of integrating behavioral and pharmacological treatments of drug addiction. From Lippincott-Raven, Philadelphia, 1997 (448pp, illustrated); ISBN 0-3975-1764-5; $131.00.

Updated February 2005

Journals & Newsletters

NIDA Journal – Science & Practice Perspectives
A new journal available free from NIDA – Science & Practice Perspectives – promotes dialogue between researchers and providers in the drug abuse treatment field. Published twice a year, in each issue, researchers provide up-to-the-minute reviews of the most critical topics in the science of addiction treatment. Top service providers offer perspectives on what works and can work in diverse treatment settings. For a free subscription to NIDA’s Science & Practice Perspectives, send a request via fax: 240-632-0519; e-mail: nidapersectives@masimax.com; or via the Internet at: http://www.nida.nih.gov/perspectives/subscribe.html.

Updated February 2005

Patient Advocacy Newsletter

NAMA Advocate published by the National Alliance of Methadone Advocates’ is a newsletter that reports on diverse issues pertaining to methadone and other subjects of interest to patients in MMT programs. Clinic staff will find this publication worthwhile reading to keep informed of events on the advocacy front.

Available online at http://www.methadone.org/. To join NAMA and receive the print edition contact: 212-595-NAMA; or visit the website.

Updated February 2005

Get the Scoop with NIDA Notes

This free, 16-page, bimonthly newsletter from the National Institutes on Drug Abuse is must reading for those interested in what research is learning about drug abuse and addiction. NIDA, one of the National Institutes of Health, supports more than 85% of the world's research in the addiction field. NIDA Notes topics include authoritative information on: treatment, prevention, pharmacology, origins/causes, health consequences (including HIV/AIDS), trends/patterns, and much more.

Current and back issues can be viewed online at: http://www.nida.nih.gov/NIDA_Notes/NNIndex.html. Subscriptions to the mailed printed version can also be requested at the Web site, or by contacting MasiMax Resources at: 1375 Piccard Drive, Ste 175; Rockville, MD 20850. Fax: 240-632-0519. Email: nidanotes@masimax.com.

Updated February 2005

Journal with International Flair

Heroin Addiction & Related Clinical Problems is an excellent, twice yearly journal with an international flair from the European Opiate Addiction Treatment Association (EUROPAD). It is edited by Icro Maremmani, MD in Italy and has a global editorial board. To subscribe, visit http://www.europad.org/ for ordering information. Cost is approximately $50.00 U.S. (50 Euro). Individual articles are also available to order free of charge at the website.

Updated February 2005

Videos

Government Methadone Video for Clinic Staff"

Methadone: Where We Are" is a 33 minute video and user's guide. It examines such issues as the use and effectiveness of methadone, its biological effects, and counselor's role in treatment. Also, their "Relapse Prevention Technology Transfer Package" provides guidance on how to implement two approaches for dealing with such issues as stress, cravings, social pressures and other factors leading to relapse. This video is available from the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information, P.O. Box 2345, Rockville, MD 20847-2345, Phone: 301-468-2600 or 800-729-6686. The video (inventory #VHS059) can also be ordered on their website www.health.org for $12.50

Updated February 2005

MMT Video Depicts "Hope for a New Life"

"METHADONE TREATMENT: The Hope for a New Life" is a 30-minute videotape providing critical information on opioid addiction and methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). Produced by COMPA (Committee of Methadone Program Administrators, Inc.) of New York State, it depicts the true story of opioid addiction, including the disease process and its devastating effects on the addicted person, the family, and the community.

On camera testimony of experts in the field and patients clearly underscore the overwhelming efficacy of MMT. Viewers will find the video compelling and enlightening, providing new insights into addiction and methadone treatment that are certain to dispel myths and help overcome stigma.

The video normally costs $90. SPECIAL for AT Forum readers -- only $45 plus $5 shipping and handling (be sure to mention AT Forum when ordering). Contact COMPA at: 1 Columbia Place; Albany, NY 12207. Phone: 518-689-0457; fax: 518-426-1046.

Updated February 2005

Short Video Paints Positive MMT Portrait

"The Joy of Being Normal" is a short (7 1/3 minutes) video that skillfully illustrates the benefits of methadone as a medication allowing people to live normal and productive lives. Several vignettes reveal examples of "secret successes" that have so often been hidden from public view – MMT patients flourishing in everyday life, with responsible jobs and loving families.

The film is excellently produced, culturally diverse, attention-grabbing, and suitable for any audience. It is certain to generate further interest and set a very positive tone for discussions with community groups, healthcare professionals, families and prospective patients, and others. Indeed, this innovative production can be a powerful tool to help spark the sort of open dialogue that may help abolish the enduring, unjustified stigma surrounding this vital treatment modality.

Copies of The Joy of Being Normal can be ordered from Danya International: 8737 Colesville Rd., Suite 1200; Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. Phone: 301-565-2142. website: http://www.danya.com/. Cost is $99.95 plus $7.00 shipping & handling.

Updated February 2005

Miscellaneous of Note

Revised NIH Hepatitis C Statement

A Consensus Development Conference on The Management of Hepatitis C: 2002 was organized by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) June 2002 to provide an update to a 1997 conference on the same topic. This independent, non-government, panel broke away from its 1997 predecessors by expanding the scope of patients eligible for HCV treatment to include those who use injected drugs, consume alcohol, suffer from comorbid psychiatric conditions such as depression, or who are coinfected with HIV. Of importance, this latest guideline also acknowledges that anti-HCV therapies have been successful in patients receiving ongoing methadone maintenance treatment. The full text of the panel’s statement is available at http://consensus.nih.gov/ or by calling 1-888-NIH-CONSENSUS (1-888-644-2667).

Updated February 2005

Website Features Alcoholism Info

Set your Internet browser to http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/recovery for information on substance dependency, especially alcoholism and naltrexone therapy. This site is managed by the Treatment Research Center at the University of Pennsylvania and directed by Joseph Volpicelli, MD, PhD, one of the premier researchers of alcoholism and the use of naltrexone.

There is easy access to authoritative research articles and lectures-in-print on numerous addiction topics. The naltrexone FAQs are helpful for both patients and practitioners, and patient case studies provide insights into the clinical application of this underutilized medication. There are listings of treatment programs worldwide using naltrexone therapy, links to other sources of information on the Web, and a number of interactive surveys and self-tests.

Updated February 2005

Mastering Grantsmanship

Discovering funding opportunities and developing grant proposals can be difficult. Now, a web-based grant-writing tutorial is available to help drug abuse researchers and programs locate and apply for federal funding, specifically grants from the National Institutes of Health and other government agencies.

Developed by Danya International, a Maryland-based health and human services consulting firm, the guide provides comprehensive information about formulating a research question, determining what kind of grant is most appropriate, working with a proposal team, writing different types of grants, understanding what happens after submission of the grant, and avoiding fatal flaws and common pitfalls of grant-writers. The tutorial can be accessed at: http://www.theresearchassistant.com/tutorial/index.asp.

Updated February 2005

"Snapshot" Gives Look at SAMHSA Grant Opportunities

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers publication called "Snapshot" – a series dedicated to simplifying and amplifying information about SAMHSA’s grant programs. Snapshot gives potential grant applicants a preliminary view of funding opportunities in substance abuse prevention, addiction treatment, and mental health services. The volume provides a brief overview of just how SAMHSA’s grant review process works, providing suggestions about how to get started in grant writing, identification of what an application packet should contain, and tips about "what works" in the development and presentation of applications.

Snapshot is available at no cost from SAMHSA by sending an e-mail with your name and address to snapshot@samhsa.gov and requesting a copy by mail, or download a copy from the SAMHSA web site at http://www.samhsa.gov/grants/grants.html. Alternatively, call the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information at 800-729-6686.

Updated February 2005

A Phone Number to Remember: 800-788-2800

You can reach all seven federal alcohol and drug clearinghouses which are sponsored either by the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Justice, or the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The info sources include:

National Clearinghouse for Alcohol & Drug InformationNational Criminal Justice Reference ServiceDrug Information & Strategy ClearinghouseNational AIDS ClearinghouseDrug Abuse Information & Treatment Referral LineDrug-Free Workplace Helpline
Drugs & Crime Data Center & Clearinghouse

This network of resources provides ready access to thousands of helpful documents, plus personalized assistance to solve a problem or meet the special needs of patients. Some clearinghouses publish regular newsletters which are available at no charge.

Updated February 2005

World Travel Guide for MMT Patients

Advice for travelers on methadone maintenance covers the world from A to Z: Afghanistan to
Zimbabwe and nearly 200 countries in between. A project of INDRO e. V. in Germany, see
http://www.indro-online.de/travel.htm or call +49 251-60123.

Updated February 2005