Eliminating health disparities through science at NIDA

Understanding the underlying causes of drug use and drug use disorders as well as how to effectively prevent and treat them represents a significant challenge for public health officials and the scientific community. Equally important is the challenge to understand the disproportionate effects of drug use within and across racial/ethnic groups, the medically underserved and other disadvantaged populations in the United States. Research aimed at uncovering the underlying causes of disparities in drug use and its consequences focuses on issues related to epidemiology, prevention, services, and treatment outcomes within and across racial, ethnic and other underserved populations. This paper seeks to highlight research on drug use and its effects in racial/ethnic and underserved populations. The presentation will highlight the National Institutes of Health's (NIH's) Strategic Plan to Reduce Health Disparities related to drug abuse and the ongoing research addressing this considerable challenge. Research findings from the Epidemiology, Prevention, and Treatment Services Programs at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) will be emphasized. Because of the importance of drug-related transmission of HIV and other infections, current research findings on this topic will be described. Topics for further research will be discussed, particularly with regard to hidden and hard-to-reach populations. Finally, research on health disparities will be placed in the context of current emergent areas of research for the Institute. Participants in the session will better understand the public health mission of NIDA with regard to the reduction of health disparities.