News Release

NIDA celebrates 25th anniversary of scientific progress with a day of events for public and scientific audiences

Meeting Announcement

NIH/National Institute on Drug Abuse

A full day of activities, including an evening event for the general public and an afternoon scientific symposium, will be held by the National Institute on Drug Abuse on Monday, September 27, 1999, at the National Institute of Health's Clinical Center. The commemoration of NIDA's 25 years of leadership in bringing the power of science to bear on drug abuse and addiction will be hosted by Dr. Alan I. Leshner, NIDA Director.

Floyd Bloom, M.D., of the Scripps Research Institute and editor-in-chief of Science Magazine, will speak at the program for the general public at 7:00 p.m. at Masur Auditorium.

Dr. Bloom will discuss the essence of substance abuse research, its challenges and opportunities. Also featured at this public event will be Dr José Szapocznik, Ph.D., director of the Center for Family Studies at the University of Miami School of Medicine, who will discuss the future of prevention and treatment of adolescent drug abuse.

An afternoon scientific symposium, "NIDA: Celebrating a Quarter Century of Scientific Progress," at the Masur Auditorium from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., will bring together prominent scientists from such leading research centers as Stanford University, the University of Michigan, and the University of California at Los Angeles, to present and discuss the latest research findings on drug abuse and addiction. It will feature presentations on emotions and vulnerability to addiction, the history and future of addiction treatment research, the contributions of neuroimaging to our understanding of addiction, and the prevention and progression of HIV infection, which is often spread among and by injecting drug users.

The afternoon event is designed primarily for clinicians, researchers, policy-makers, and all others interested in better understanding the roots of drug addiction, and the new approaches, medications and technologies being developed to prevent and treat it.

The evening event is targeted to the general public, including students, teachers, parents, and anyone with an interest in learning more about the scientific facts about drug abuse and addiction.

A poster presentation will take place from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and again from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

There is no charge for any of the events. For more information, call 301-443-1124 or check the NIDA web site: www.nida.nih.gov .

NIDA: Celebrating a Quarter Century of Scientific Progress
September 27, 1999
NIH Clinical Center, Building 10

Agenda

9:30-11:30 a.m. Drug Abuse and Addiction Research: From Molecules to Managed Care

Poster Presentations by NIDA Investigators
Visitors Center, Building 10
(repeats at 5-6:30 p.m.)

1:00-5:00 p.m. Scientific Symposium
Masur Auditorium
Building 10

Introduction
Alan I. Leshner, Ph.D.
Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse

2:00 p.m. Addiction Research:An Historical Perspective
Avram Goldstein, M.D.
Professor Emeritus, Stanford University
2:30 p.m. Emotions and Vulnerability to Addiction: The Challenge of Integrating
Molecular and Behavioral Approaches
Huda Akil, Ph.D.
University of Michigan
3:00 p.m. Neuroimaging: A Window into the Addicted Brain
Hans Breiter, M.D.
Massachusetts General Hospital
3:30 p.m. The Future of Addiction Treatment Research
Herb Kleber, M.D.
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
4:00 p.m. Preventing Drug Abuse and Addiction: Directions for Future Research
Mary Ann Pentz, Ph.D.
University of Southern California
4:30 p.m. HIV Infection: Prevention and Progression
David Vlahov, Ph.D.
New York Academy of Medicine
5:00-6:30 p.m. Poster Presentations by NIDA Investigators
Visitors Center, Building 10
(repeat from morning session)

Evening Event for the Public

7:00 p.m. The Science of Substance Abuse: Challenges and Opportunities
Floyd Bloom, M.D.
Scripps Research Institute
Editor-in-Chief, Science Magazine

Prevention and Treatment of Adolescent Drug Use: What Does the Future Hold?
José Szapocznik, Ph.D.
University of Miami School of Medicine

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NIDA supports more than 85 percent of the world's research on the health aspects of drug abuse and addiction. The Institute also carries out a large variety of programs to ensure the rapid dissemination of research information and its implementation in policy and practice. Fact sheets on health effects of drugs of abuse and other topics can be ordered free of charge in English and Spanish, by calling NIDA Infofax at 1-888-NIH-NIDA (-644-6432) or 1-888-TYY-NIDA (-889-6432) for the deaf. These fact sheets and further information on NIDA research and other activities can be found on the NIDA home page at http://www.nida.nih.gov .


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