CTN-0115: The patient stigma manuscript was accepted for publication by the Journal of Pain: Bell, S.G., Hamm, M., Wasilewski, J., Wasilko, R., Olejniczak, D., Subramaniam, G.A., Liebschutz, J.M., Bulls, H.W. (2025) “They feel punished for their pain:” Experiences with opioid stigma from the perspective of survivors living with chronic cancer-related pain and clinicians that care for them. Journal of Pain, accepted for publication. WVU affiliated sites continue to have strong recruitment in both CTN-0100 (only 4 more slot open for recruitment) and CTN-0102-XR.  Posted on May 14, 2025.

Dr. Ned Nunes, has been awarded the prestigious R. Brinkley Smithers Distinguished Scientist Award at ASAM in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field. This award honors individuals whose work has significantly advanced our understanding of prevention and treatment of substance use disorders. Ned’s groundbreaking research, unwavering commitment to scientific excellence, and dedication to collaboration make him a truly deserving recipient. Please join us in congratulating Ned on this well-earned recognition! For more information about Dr. Nunes’ award and other awardees, visit the ASAM Awards & Scholarships site! Posted on May 13, 2025.

After 11 years as NorthStar node coordinator, Nate Tessum has moved to a new career opportunity at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. We are thankful for all of the work Nate has done getting the node up and running and through so many important CTN studies. We wish him the best of luck and are grateful to know that he is just down the street with one of our node partners. We look forward to new opportunities to work with him in his new capacity. Posted May 13, 2025.

Join the CTN Western States Node, Northwest ATTC, and Pacific Southwest ATTC for their next joint webinar: CTN-0108: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in the Treatment of Stimulant Use Disorder (June 25, 2025, 11am-12:30pm PT). 1.5 CME/CE credits available. Accreditation information. In this session, Kathleen T. Brady, MD, PhD, of the Medical University of South Carolina, will discuss the NIDA N Clinical Trials Network (CTN) study CTN-0108, “Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for the Treatment of Methamphetamine/Cocaine Use Disorder,” a pilot study that aims to determine the feasibility, effectiveness, and safety for 20 sessions of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) versus sham in adults with a diagnosed methamphetamine or cocaine use disorder. Dr. Brady, co-Principal Investigator for CTN-0108, will present the rationale for the study, including the literature supporting the use of rTMS in stimulant use disorder, as well as the study methodology and preliminary results. Objectives: Register for the CTN-0108 webinar Posted on May 8, 2025.

1.0 CME, ANCC, or Vermont OPR CE credits available! Advances in digital technology, such as mobile devices, have fundamentally changed our society and are rapidly changing how we provide substance use and mental healthcare. In this webinar from the CTN Northeast Node, part of their ongoing Science Series, Dr. Lisa Marsch, Director of the Dartmouth Center for Technology and Behavioral Health, will discuss how digital technology can provide state-of-the science, personalized behavioral healthcare anytime and anywhere.  She will review how data collected from mobile devices can provide new insights into the dynamic nature of substance use and mental health disorders in people’s daily lives and provide personalized digital therapeutic interventions to complement and extend our traditional models of care.  She will highlight the striking behavioral healthcare needs across the globe and how digital technologies can help provide scalable solutions to tackle these population-level needs.  She will provide a vision for the potential of digital technology to help redefine the future of behavioral healthcare. Register for the Digital Tools webinar here! Posted May 8, 2025.

Let’s Talk About Drugs in the Intermountain West Podcast The Greater Intermountain Node is housed within the Program of Addiction Research, Clinical Care, Knowledge, and Advocacy (PARCKA) at the University of Utah. As part of its outreach and advocacy efforts, PARCKA produces a weekly podcast, Let’s Talk About Drugs in the Intermountain West. New episodes are released every Wednesday, featuring conversations that explore topics around addiction and spotlight the efforts being made to address substance use disorders across the Greater Intermountain West. This May marks the podcast’s one-year anniversary! You can catch up on all episodes via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or directly on the podcast’s website. The show is always looking for new voices. If you’re interested in being a guest, please reach out to us at PARCKA@hsc.utah.edu. SUPeRAD Expansion The University of Utah’s Substance Use & Pregnancy—Recovery, Addiction, and Dependence (SUPeRAD) Clinic has recently expanded to three locations, now including a new site in the Rose Park neighborhood in Salt Lake City, UT. In partnership with the Greater Intermountain Node, the SUPeRAD Clinic played a key role in participant recruitment for CTN-0080: Medication Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder in Expectant Mothers (MOMs) Study. Thanks to SUPeRAD’s efforts, the Greater Intermountain Node was the top recruiting site for the study. Help us in congratulating the SUPeRAD team on this exciting expansion! You can hear highlights from the ribbon-cutting ceremony on the podcast Let’s Talk About Drugs in the Intermountain West. Posted on May 1, 2025.

The New York Node is proud to announce that Dr. John Rotrosen, MD, an esteemed and long-time member of the CTN, has been presented the Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), in recognition of his unwavering commitment to the advancement of translational research in the area of substance use and other psychiatric disorders. This distinguished honor recognizes his outstanding contributions advancing science that improves lives. Dr. Rotrosen’s contributions to addiction, ADHD, schizophrenia, and movement disorders research have made a significant impact on public health, including the development of atypical antipsychotics, innovative drug delivery methods, and new treatments for SUDs. As a principal investigator for major NIDA and Veterans Administration initiatives, he has led seminal clinical trials and medication development projects using innovative and elegant approaches that leveraged clinical genetics, neuroimaging, and healthcare services research to help bridge the gap between scientific discovery and real-world medical practice, improving addiction treatment accessibility and outcomes. Dr. Rotrosen’s work has not only made a significant impact on the field of addiction but has also inspired and influenced countless individuals in the research community and society at large. Dr. Rotrosen retired in October 2023, after being with the CTN since its inception in 2000. Read more about his retirement here. Congratulations, Dr. Rotrosen!

Congratulations to Judith Tsui, MD, MPH, member of the CTN Pacific Northwest Node, who has just been named the President-Elect of CPDD (College on Problems of Drug Dependence)! Dr. Tsui is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington, based at Harborview Medical Center and Evergreen Treatment Services, Director of the UW GIM Substance Use Research and Education (SURE) Unit, Associate Director of the Addiction Medicine Fellowship at the UW, Director of the UW/Fred Hutch Center for AIDS Research Substance Scientific Working Group, and PI/Director of the NIH/NIDA R25-funded UW Medical Student Addiction Research (“MedStAR”) Program. Each director on the CPDD board offers a unique perspective that works to strengthen the strategic direction of the organization and help it continue to grow, innovate, and serve its community with purpose. We know Dr. Tsui will be an invaluable asset to the board and are looking forward to how this new experience will inform the work of the Pacific Northwest Node as well! Read more about the incoming board members here!