The goal of the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) Clinical Trials Network/Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) webinar series is to help scholars and clinicians in the addiction field stay abreast of cutting-edge science. This series is sponsored by the Western States Node of the CTN and the Pacific Northwest and Pacific Southwest ATTCs. The uptake in the use of telebehavioral services since the start of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) has been swift and is significantly transforming how behavioral health services are delivered. This is encouraging, as the research base for assessing and treating mental health conditions virtually is extensive and over 60 years old. However, for substance use disorders (SUDs), the research is less extensive and more recent. Mental health and SUD treatment services provided virtually are effective and serve as viable alternatives to in-person service delivery. Patients confirm high levels of satisfaction with telebehavioral health, while practitioners report more reluctance. Nonetheless, training has been shown to build practitioners’ skills, confidence, and competency. Using technology to facilitate clinical or recovery support sessions requires clinicians and peer support specialists to simulate real-time experiences (Hilty, 2002) that promote a therapeutic alliance (treatment) or connection (peer support). However, virtual service delivery requires some careful modification of the clinicians’ or peer support specialists’ skills to ensure engagement occurs and positive working relationships are developed. This webinar, presented by Nancy A. Roget, MS, MFT, LADC and Maryellen Evers, LCSW, CAADAC, CMFSW, will include a brief review of: telebehavioral health research and its efficacy, strategies…

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Center for the Clinical Trials Network (CCTN) is hosting a virtual workshop titled “Target Trial Emulation in Observational Research and Translational Testing of Advanced Digital Health Tools for SUD Prevention and Treatment.” This workshop is scheduled for Thursday, September 29, 2022, from 10:30 a.m.– 4:30 p.m. ET. This workshop aims to introduce these trending approaches; assess their strengths, limitations, and potential; discuss feasible research questions; identify study priorities, and explore actionable strategies to address barriers and challenges for advancing substance use disorder (SUD) research.  The workshop consists of three subthemes with the following speakers. Learning SUD Evidence From Nationwide Data Sources Christopher Jones, Pharm.D., Dr.PH., M.P.H. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Beth Han, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H. National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health Julie Donohue, Ph.D. University of Pittsburgh Target Trial Emulation Using Real-World Healthcare Data Sara Lodi, Ph.D. Boston University Rolf Groenwold, Ph.D. Leiden University, Netherlands Joshua Wallach, Ph.D. M.S. Yale University Marc LaRochelle, M.D., M.P.H. Boston University Translational Testing of Clinical- and Community-Based Digital Health Systems Brandon Marshall, Ph.D. Brown University Rebecca Rossom, M.D., M.S. HealthPartners Jenny Lo-Ciganic, Ph.D., M.S.Pharm. University of Florida Walid Gellad, M.D., M.P.H. University of Pittsburgh Majid Afshar, M.D., MSCR University of Wisconsin-Madison Meeting Chair: Lisa Marsch, Ph.D. Dartmouth College