This is a new proposal to establish a Treatment Research Unit with the capacity to treat and maintain a pool of 100 to 120 patients available for controlled clinical studies of treatment effectiveness to improve the treatment strategies for intravenous drug users, especially those of heroin and cocaine. The overall objective is to reduce the incidence of drug use and needle sharing in this group of patients, as well as to bring about changes in sexual and other behavior that places these patients at high risk for HIV infection. The eventual goal is to prevent the spread of AIDS and HIV infection through more effective treatment of intravenous drug users. Several studies are proposed: Studies of buprenorphine as a detoxification agent; an inpatient study of the ability of LAAM to prevent withdrawal symptoms; treatment of co-morbidity during methadone treatment This TRU has the potential to conduct early drug evaluation in a controlled inpatient unit and the experience to participate in or coordinate multi-center studies of importance to NIDA Each research project will be measured for its effect on the improved efficacy of treatment for addicts as a surrogate measure of its effectiveness in reducing HIV infection. Some projects, for instance those involving educating patients on the nature of HIV infection and its mode of transmission and danger of needle sharing and risky sexual behavior, etc., will be measured by comparing baseline practice to those of post treatment. The longterm goal of this unit is to establish an able staff and well run clinical unit which will continue to examine and define different treatment strategies as means of improving treatment thereby reducing the risk of HIV infection among addicts and their families into the next decade. The research results will be publicized both by means of communication to NIDA Project Officer and presentation at various scientific meetings and through formal publications in refereed journals.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Demonstration and Dissemination Projects (R18)
Project #
1R18DA006082-01
Application #
3441571
Study Section
(SRCD)
Project Start
1989-09-30
Project End
1994-08-31
Budget Start
1989-09-30
Budget End
1990-08-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1989
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Friends Research Institute, Inc.
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21201
Ling, W; Shoptaw, S (1997) Integration of research in pharmacotherapy for addictive disease: where are we? Where are we going? J Addict Dis 16:83-102
Ling, W; Wesson, D R; Charuvastra, C et al. (1996) A controlled trial comparing buprenorphine and methadone maintenance in opioid dependence. Arch Gen Psychiatry 53:401-7
Compton, P A; Ling, W; Wesson, D R et al. (1996) Urine toxicology as an outcome measure in drug abuse clinical trials: must every sample be analyzed? J Addict Dis 15:85-92
Ling, W; Rawson, R A; Compton, M A (1994) Substitution pharmacotherapies for opioid addiction: from methadone to LAAM and buprenorphine. J Psychoactive Drugs 26:119-28
Wesson, D R; Ling, W; Smith, D E (1993) Prescription of opioids for treatment of pain in patients with addictive disease. J Pain Symptom Manage 8:289-96
Gawin, F H (1991) Cocaine addiction: psychology and neurophysiology. Science 251:1580-6
Rawson, R A; Ling, W (1991) Opioid addiction treatment modalities and some guidelines to their optimal use. J Psychoactive Drugs 23:151-63
Wesson, D R; Smith, D E (1990) Prescription drug abuse. Patient, physician, and cultural responsibilities. West J Med 152:613-6