Bridging psychosocial research and treatment in community substance abuse programs.

Bridging the gap between substance abuse research and treatment has received extensive attention in recent years. SAMHSA and NIDA have implemented major initiatives to establish partnerships between researchers and practitioners (such as the CTN). This article addresses issues relevant to implementing psychosocial research protocols in community substance abuse programs, and addresses neglected issues such as communication between treatment staff and researchers in the development and implementation of studies. The author also discusses the pitfalls of applying FDA standards to psychosocial research studies in community settings. The article includes specific suggestions for substance abuse researchers, treatment staff, and funding sources for producing high-quality psychosocial research in community-based programs.