Today, most substance abuse treatment is administered by community-based organizations. If providers could readily incorporate the most recent advances in understanding the mechanisms of addiction and treatment, the treatment would be much more effective and efficient. The gap between research findings and everyday treatment practice represents an enormous missed opportunity at this exciting time in this field.


Informed by real-life experiences in addiction treatment including workshops and site visits, Bridging the Gap Between Practice and Research examines why research remains remote from treatment and makes specific recommendations to community providers, federal and state agencies, and other decision-makers. The book outlines concrete strategies for building and disseminating knowledge about addiction; for linking research, policy development, and everyday treatment implementation; and for helping drug treatment consumers become more informed advocates.


In candid language, the committee discusses the policy barriers and the human attitudes—the stigma, suspicion, and skepticism—that often hinder progress in addiction treatment. The book identifies the obstacles to effective collaboration among the research, treatment, and policy sectors; evaluates models to address these barriers; and looks in detail at the issue from the perspective of the community-based provider and the researcher.

Table of Contents


Front Matter
Executive Summary
1 Introduction
2 The Gaps Between Research, Treatment, and Policy
3 Approaches to Closing the Gaps
4 Benefits and Challenges of Research Collaboration for Community-Based Treatment Providers
5 Benefits and Challenges of Community-Based Collaboration for Researchers
6 Findings and Recommendations
Appendix A: Statment of Task
Appendix B: Workshops and Roundtable: Agendas and Participants
Appendix C: Commissioned Paper: Drug Treatment Programs and Research: The Challenge of Bidirectionality
Appendix D: Commissioned Paper: The Treatment of Addiction: What Can Research Offer Practice?
Appendix E: Commissioned Paper: The Substance Abuse Treatment System: What Does It Look Like and Whom Does It Serve? Preliminary Findings from the Alcohol and Drug Services Study
Appendix F: National Institute of Health Consensus Development Statement on Effective Medical Treatment of Heroin Addiction
Appendix G: Useful Internet Resources -- Examples
Appendix H: List of Currently Available CSAT Tretment Improvement Protocols (TIPs)
Appendix I: Opportunities for Collaboration
Appendix J: Summary of Interviews with Minnesota State Alcoholism-Addiction Leaders
Index