On blending practice and research: The search for commonalities in substance abuse treatment.

The issue of integrating research and practice in the field of substance abuse is clearly on the rise. The National Institute on Drug Abuse Clinical Trials Network has been a major force in the movement, but other local and regional efforts such as the Addiction Technology Transfer Centers also represent collaborative efforts to improve the quality of substance abuse treatment and science. To date, there have also been five major NIDA-sponsored “Blending Conferences,” in Los Angeles, New York, Denver, Detroit, and Miami, that have sought to connect the research and treatment communities and to create on going forums and partnerships. While dialogues about logistical and philosophical issues are important, the development of shared core concepts could potentially be quite helpful in facilitating communication and creating common treatment and research goals.

It is the contention of this paper that all psychosocial and, potentially, pharmacological treatments ideally address, in part or in full, three aspects of the self — the capacity to regulate emotional and behavioral expression, the ability to engage in future-oriented, goal-directed behavior, and the development of nonaddict and/or recovery-oriented identities. Examples from the research and treatment literature are provided.