National Institute on Drug Abuse: Dissemination of scientific knowledge to improve adolescent health.

Timely and wide translation of NIDA’s science and research findings is necessary to educate health providers (HCPs) and to inform policy makers and youth and their families, and it ultimately improves adolescent and public health.

NIDA’s web portals, such as NIDAMED, CTN Dissemination Initiative, Research Studies/Translational Research Resources (Drug Topics), NIDA for Teens, and CTN Dissemination Library disseminate empirically based evidence regarding adolescent substance use.

Dissemination of scientific information involves active partnerships with researchers; professional organizations, youth and their families; and educators and policy makers, to ensure bidirectional exchange and to inform a constantly evolving process to make relevant information readily available in user-friendly and cost-free formats. This article provides an overview of all of thee approaches to dissemination and sets the stage for a call to HCPs to educate youth on the dangers of substance use and to treat youth who may have already developed a substance use disorder.