NIDA’s Clinical Trials Network: A source of social work practice-relevant knowledge.

There are long-standing gaps between research findings and practice in service provision to those dependent on drugs or alcohol. State and local policies increasingly advocate or require the use of evidence-based practices in publicly funded treatment programs. The National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (CTN) began in 1999 with the goal of “improv[ing] the quality of drug abuse treatment throughout the country using science as the vehicle.” This presentation describes the CTN, provides an overview of its work, and highlights the applicability of its findings to social work research and practice. To date, the CTN has launched 28 multi-site intervention trials: 14 psychosocial/behavioral interventions, 10 medication or combined medication/psychosocial interventions, and 4 focused on HIV risk. Overall, the CTN has been successful at implementing science-based treatments with fidelity in clinical settings. The CTN represents a source of practice-relevant knowledge that can be utilized by social workers in a variety of settings. Interventions that hold up to testing in community settings have an increased likelihood of effectiveness when implemented in these settings. More information is needed about strategies that increase successful dissemination and implementation of evidence-based practices in service settings.