The NIDA “Drug Repurposing and Repositioning Insights for Treating Substance Use Disorders (SUDs)” Challenge aims to inspire and gather groundbreaking ideas for repurposing or repositioning existing drugs to effectively treat substance use disorders. By focusing on existing drugs, new therapeutic approaches can rapidly be translated into clinical practice, bringing new hope to individuals struggling with SUD. The Challenge will offer up to ten awards of up to $10,000 each. The Challenge total cash prize purse is up to $100,000. Challenge participants and winners may also have the opportunity to collaborate with the center focused on drug repurposing that NIDA anticipates funding in the future. The submission deadline for this Challenge…

As fentanyl continues to impact communities at an unprecedented rate, understanding its potency and dangers is critical to reducing harm. By raising awareness and promoting life-saving measures like naloxone, we can work toward preventing overdoses and saving lives. This new video explainer from the Addiction Policy Forum highlights the increase of synthetic opioids like fentanyl, overdose risks, the increase in counterfeit pills containing fentanyl nationwide, and the importance of naloxone access and overdose prevention education. The video is available in English as well as in multiple additional languages.

NPR Exclusive: U.S. Overdose Deaths Plummet, Saving Thousands Of Lives. According to NPR (9/18, Mann, 3.69M), state level public health data, “for the first time in decades,” may point to “a sudden and hopeful drop in drug overdose deaths across the US.” University of North Carolina researcher Dr. Nabarun Dasgupta posted data he said show that “in the states that have the most rapid data collection systems, we’re seeing declines of twenty percent, thirty percent.” NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow called the decline “exciting,” adding, “This looks real. This looks very, very real.” Volkow said, “Expansion of naloxone and medications for opioid use disorder – these strategies worked.” NPR adds that CDC…

We are pleased to share that Robrina Walker, PhD, who joined Emmes in May 2021 as a Project Leader, now serves as the Co-PI of the CCC, alongside CCC PI Eve Jelstrom. In addition to helping support and manage the CCC program/portfolio as a whole, Robrina’s direct study work includes being a Project Leader (the individual accountable for the CCC or DSC team’s support of a study) for CTN-0100 RDD (for both CCC & DSC), CTN-0121 Hi-SIRI (CCC & DSC), CTN-0102XR (CCC), and CTN-0144 (CCC). Robrina brings to Emmes nearly 25 years’ experience in clinical research in substance use disorder treatment trials funded by the Veteran’s Administration, NIAAA, and NIDA,…

The DSC is in the process of migrating to a brand new CTN website hosting Trial Progress Reports (TPR), study documents, and other resources, which is anticipated to go live March 4.  Existing active user accounts will remain intact, and users will retain the same permissions on the new website. Once the site goes “live,” users will be automatically navigated to the new site. However, please note that all users will be prompted to login and will need to set a new password. Users will enter their email address to request a new password. This will generate an email prompting users to set a new password and login. The new ctntpr.com website will include…

The Primary Care SIG aims to engage primary care in research, develop substance use treatment interventions relevant to community-based practice, and promote the transfer of evidence-based results from substance use research into community-based practices.   Next Primary Care SIG Meeting   “Are we there yet? 25 years of research on treating OUD in primary care.” March 25, 2024 | 12-1pm EST  Zoom link here. (Passcode: 201068) David Fiellin, MD Professor of Medicine, Emergency Medicine and Public HealthVice Chief, Faculty Affairs, General Internal Medicine Director, Program in Addiction MedicineYale School of Medicine  The Primary Care SIG is led by Joe LeMaster, MD, MPH and Sebastian Tong, MD, MPH, and meets every other month on the 4th Monday…

The Publication Committee would like to remind authors that papers, presentations, posters, workshops and abstracts should be submitted to the Publications Committee for prior review and approval at least a month in advance of submission to journals or conferences.   Also, the Publication Committee welcomes volunteers to serve as protocol review team members for ongoing CTN studies.   Please email Jack Blaine (jblaine@nih.gov) and Susan Sonne (sonnesc@musc.edu). Thank you.

The CTN Bulletin is now using the MailChimp platform! MailChimp has several benefits over our previous method for these messages: If you have any questions, comments, or challenges with the new format, please let us know! Email us at ctnlib@uw.edu. Subscribe to the CTN Bulletin here!

Since 2012, the National Institute on Drug Abuse Clinical Trials Network Dissemination Initiative (NIDA CTN DI) Mentor-Facilitated Training (MFT) awards have supported health care trainees in the dissemination of best practices in substance use disorder (SUD) screening, prevention, and treatment. Physicians, physician associates, nurses, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists across the country have benefited from the program, which funds year-long, mentored dissemination projects. MFT awardees identify gaps in evidence-based SUD knowledge and treatment delivery, and address these gaps by creating trainings, workshops, and tools and resources for their colleagues and other providers in health care settings, schools, and communities. “Being a part of the MFT program opened my eyes to the…

CPDD is currently accepting poster abstracts for its June 2024 annual conference, with a deadline of December 29, 2023. CPDD poster abstracts require PC review and approval prior to CPDD submission. PC reviews these poster submissions quickly usually within two weeks. Many reviewers are out of the office the holiday week of Monday, December 25 – Friday, December 29. Please send your poster abstracts for PC review by December 1 to provide adequate time for PC review. Posters should be submitted to Jack Blaine (jblaine@nida.nih.gov) and Susan Sonne (sonnesc@musc.edu). Find out more about CPDD submissions and deadlines here. Posted 11/9/2023