Recorded presentation

Jon Morgenstern, PhD, Kimberly A. Blanchard, PhD, Mary Nakashian, MA, Fay Gibson, MA, Barbara Kistenmacher, PhD, Kamala Greene, PhD, and Lisa O'Connor, PhD. Columbia University (CASA), The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, 633 Third Ave., 19th Fl, New York, NY 10019, 212-841-5247, jon.morgenstern@mssm.edu

Studies indicate that disadvantaged mothers have significantly higher rates of substance use disorders than other women. Although rates vary by method and location, some studies in urban areas found that 20-25% of mothers on welfare regularly used cocaine. The combination of poverty and substance abuse often have devastating personal and familial consequences as well as high social costs. Despite the compelling nature of the problem, experts agree that the quality of available services, especially for drug abusing mothers with child welfare system involvement is inadequate. In addition, the amount, scope, and impact of research in this area is meager, when compared to the public health importance of the problem and to research conducted for other substance abuse treatments (e.g., brief interventions).

During the last eight years, the investigator and his colleagues have developed a programmatic line of research in this area. The primary aim of the presentation will be to identify the many challenges investigators face in conducting research in this area and how these issues were addressed. The presentation will examine how the typical single-investigator RO1 approach is not well suited to this area because of the clinical complexity of the population, need for a multi-focused intervention, problems of intervention development and coordination across multiple layers within health and social service systems, and the special requirements needed to fund intervention trials. Examples from an 8-year study that is currently being completed will be offered to illustrate these issues and how they were addressed.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to desribe the magnitude of the problem, understand the need for structured research in the area, and list some interventions that have been developed for these issues.

Keywords: Substance Abuse,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation