Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #107194

Elaine F. Cassidy, PhD, Program Officer, Research and Evaluation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Route 1 North and College Road East, Princeton, NJ 08543, 609.627.7611, ecassid@rwjf.org

Despite the increase in scientific knowledge of effective, evidence-based practices to treat substance use dependence, disagreement exists regarding what are, in fact, considered to be “evidence-based” treatment practices. In addition, standard measures to evaluate the use of those practices at the agency level are not widely used. This paper presents findings from an RWJF-sponsored convening, during which treatment researchers and other experts met to decide upon not only a set of evidence-based treatment practices that need to be more widely disseminated, but also a group of indicators that can be used to assess whether agencies are properly implementing those practices in treatment. The group made numerous suggestions for improvement to addiction treatment practices. To name a few, it concluded that treatment should begin with screening by a primary care physician or other health care provider for possible addiction. Those identified with diagnosable addiction should have access to proven psychosocial practices and should be routinely considered to receive proven medications to help them with their specific addiction. Leverage points for delivery system improvement were identified at the staffing, financial, accreditation and infrastructural levels. These leverage points will be used to guide future policy decisions and inform practice requirements for professionals involved in the treatment of substance use dependence.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will be able to identify “evidence-based” treatment practices, as described by a panel of experts. They will also learn one example of an “ideal” treatment process for someone entering the substance use dependence treatment system. Finally, participants will gain understanding of factors that should be in place at the agency level for increased adoption of evidence-based practices to take place.

Keywords: Evidence Based Practice, Substance Abuse Treatment

Related Web page: www.rwjf.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.