Addiction Studies Program

What Participants Said About the Summer 2001 Workshop

"Thank you so much for the addiction studies program. Not only was it highly informative, but it also captured and kept my attention throughout. I really learned more than I expected, and I wish there were a program like yours for every aspect of the health sciences. As a journalist, I realized how often we report on subjects that we don't understand and this workshop gave me a fuller background and broader understanding of addiction."

"I thought the workshop was terrific. The setting was wonderful, and the faculty was approachable, insightful, expert, and easy to understand. I also thought that the theme - a look at the biology of the brain and how it responds to addiction - could not have been more timely. The sessions I attended gave me a new understanding of how powerful drugs are, how maddeningly difficult it is to break their hold on body and brain, and how vitally important it is that we use science as the basis for better and more cost-efficient treatment programs. I definitely feel that my own approach to writing about substance abuse (use?) has been deepened by what I learned. I'm glad to know that another batch of journalists will have this experience next year."

"I want to compliment all of you on a wonderful workshop. I learned so much that I am considering working on programs I hadn't before, simply because I now know where to begin helping in the area of addiction and rehabilitation. Your unique approach to working with journalists is commendable. Thank you for inviting me, and thank you - thank you - thank you for the scholarship that enabled me to attend."

"I more fully understand the topic. I better understand how complex both addiction and treatment are."

"I was not expecting to be so fully interested and engaged throughout the entire program. It was excellent and exceeded all expectation. Thank you!"

"The Addiction Studies Program was a wonderful opportunity to learn about addiction science from some of the top scientists in the country, and I'm honored to have been a part of it. I stayed over for the CPDD (College for Problems of Drug Dependence) meeting, and I found it very useful. While it's important for journalists to increase their personal knowledge base, this only pays off for you and the public at large if those journalists wind up applying their newly acquired knowledge by writing about substance abuse and addiction. That's where current research, such as that presented at the CPDD meeting, comes in. It gives us a news peg to hang our knowledge on - which, in practical terms, gives us a way to pitch marketable story ideas to editors. I think it would be a great idea to combine the meetings again next year."

"I guess I hoped for more conclusive discovery of the magic formulas. They aren't there, and that was useful to know. But paths of research and treatment were laid out, so I'll be better prepared to understand the complexities of subject."

"I was aware of some of this, but the neuroscience and molecular details were new."

"I'd like to do this again."

"The details - neurobiological chemistry - provided a good foundation of information."

"I am much more knowledgeable about this issue and approach to it."

"The workshop was very stimulating and productive."

"Great speakers - great faculty - thank you!"

"I think the workshop will improve my understanding of addiction!"

"I liked best the close interaction between scientists and journalists!"

"I learned so much more than I thought I would and am now fascinated by the science behind drug addiction."

"I liked best the lectures on the science and scientific advancements in the field of addiction studies."

"I'm so grateful I was able to attend this workshop. I'm a firm believer that it is the journalist's responsibility to effectively bridge the communication gap between scientists and the public. Journalists can begin to do this by attending workshops like this to strengthen their understanding of the science behind important health issues and subsequently feed the public easy-to-swallow messages. This is how science can most effectively influence public policy."

"It will certainly make me think of addiction as a multifaceted problem; that it's not a moral weakness or failing, and that it has a strong genetic component."

"The workshop gave me a broader view of the problem."

"I liked best the openness of the professors, and their enthusiasm about the topic."

Syllabus continued

10:50 Break

11:00 Lecture/Discussion
Neurobiology of Behavior
David Friedman

12:40 Lunch

1:45 Lecture/Discussion
The Pharmacology of Drug Addiction
Shelly Schwartz?Bloom

3:30 Break

3:50 General Discussion

4:15 Sources of Scientifically Reliable Information on the Web
Sue Rusche

5:00 Adjourn

7:30 Dinner
Dinner Speaker
Susan Rook

Saturday, June 16, 2001

8:45 Review and Preview
Jack Strandhoy

9:00 Lecture/Discussion
Genetic Factors in Addiction
Kent Vrana

10:30 Break

10:45 College for Problems of Drug Dependence
Michael Kuhar

11:00 Review and Summary
Neurobiology of Addiction

12:15 Lunch

1:30 Lecture/Discussion
Treatment for Drug Addiction
Tom McClellan

3:00 Break

3:20 Lecture/Discussion
Treatment Medications?What is on the Horizon?
Herb Kleber

4:30 Sum Up

5:00 Evaluations

5:30 Adjourn



Summer 2001 Workshop

June 15-16, 2001 Scottsdale, Arizona
Summer 2001 Workshop The Summer 2001 workshop of the Addiction Studies Program for Journalists took place June 15-16 in conjunction with the annual meeting of the College for Problems of Drug Dependence in Scottsdale, Arizona. The meeting drew more than 1,000 scientists who work in the field of drug abuse and addiction. Science and health reporters from across the nation attended the Addiction Studies Workshop June 15-16 and the scientific meeting June 17-18. The College assigned scientists to serve as mentors to journalists to answer their questions and to provide them with leads and contacts for stories they might wish to write in the future. Summer 2001 Workshop Participants Sarah Albert Editor GayHealth.com New York, New York Linda Wasmer Andrews Freelance Health Journalist/Author Albuquerque, New Mexico Michele Boyer Freelance Health Journalist Susanville, California Michael Burns Editorial Writer The Baltimore Sun Baltimore, Maryland Kenny Goldberg National Public Radio Health Reporter KPBS Radio San Diego, California Beatrice Motamedi Medical Writer Kaiser Foundation Media Fellowship Oakland, California Carolyn Petersen Managing Editor MayoClinic.com Rochester, Minnesota Gabe Rice Student Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, Arizona Linda Richards Freelance Health Writer Flagstaff, Arizona Patty Jo Sawvel Journalist, Author Kernersville, North Carolina Sue Wallace Freelance Writer Santa Rosa, California Tania Zeigler NBC Broadcast Medical News Carrboro, North Carolina Summer 2001 Workshop Faculty David Friedman, Ph.D. Director Addiction Studies Program for Journalists Director Center for the Integration of Substance Abuse Research Department of Physiology and Pharmacology Wake Forest University School of Medicine Winston-Salem, North Carolina Sue Rusche Co-Director Addiction Studies Program for Journalists Executive Director National Families in Action Atlanta, Georgia David Altman Public Health Sciences Wake Forest University School of Medicine Winston-Salem, North Carolina Tom McClellan, Ph.D. Director Treatment Research Institute University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Herb Kleber, M.D. Director Division on Substance Abuse Columbia University New York, New York Michael Kuhar, Ph.D. Advisory Board Member Addiction Studies Program for Journalists Immediate Past President College for Problems of Drug Dependence Yerkes Regional Primate Center Robert Woodruff Health Science Center Emory University Atlanta, Georgia Susan Rook Editor The Next Step Public Affairs Director Step One, Inc. Winston-Salem, North Carolina Hank Samson, Ph.D. Director Center for Neurobehavioral Study of Alcohol Department of Physiology and Pharmacology Wake Forest University School of Medicine Winston-Salem, North Carolina Rochelle "Shelly" Schwartz-Bloom, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Pharmacology Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology Duke University Medical School Durham, North Carolina Jack Strandhoy, Ph.D. Professor Department of Physiology and Pharmacology Wake Forest University School of Medicine Winston-Salem, North Carolina Kent E. Vrana, Ph.D. Associate Professor Director of Graduate Studies Department of Physiology and Pharmacology Wake Forest University School of Medicine Winston-Salem, North Carolina Mark Wright Director, News Media, Public Relations and Marketing Department of Physiology and Pharmacology Wake Forest University School of Medicine Winston-Salem, North Carolina Marilyn Yates Secretary Addiction Studies Program for Journalists Wake Forest University School of Medicine Winston-Salem, North Carolina Summer 2001 Workshop Syllabus To create a framework for our explorations of addiction, we will examine the life of Robert Downey, Jr., a celebrity who has struggled with drug addiction in the public eye for many years. All the information about Mr. Downey has come from the public record via print and electronic media. Friday, June 15, 2001 9:00 Introduction David Friedman 9:15 Setting the Stage: Why Can't Robert Downey. Jr., Stop Using Drugs? Jack Strandhoy 10:00 Setting the Stage: Animal Models of Substance Abuse Kent Vrana 10:10 A History of American Drug Use Sue Rusche		What Participants Said About the Summer 2001 Workshop "Thank you so much for the addiction studies program. Not only was it highly informative, but it also captured and kept my attention throughout. I really learned more than I expected, and I wish there were a program like yours for every aspect of the health sciences. As a journalist, I realized how often we report on subjects that we don't understand and this workshop gave me a fuller background and broader understanding of addiction." "I thought the workshop was terrific. The setting was wonderful, and the faculty was approachable, insightful, expert, and easy to understand. I also thought that the theme - a look at the biology of the brain and how it responds to addiction - could not have been more timely. The sessions I attended gave me a new understanding of how powerful drugs are, how maddeningly difficult it is to break their hold on body and brain, and how vitally important it is that we use science as the basis for better and more cost-efficient treatment programs. I definitely feel that my own approach to writing about substance abuse (use?) has been deepened by what I learned. I'm glad to know that another batch of journalists will have this experience next year." "I want to compliment all of you on a wonderful workshop. I learned so much that I am considering working on programs I hadn't before, simply because I now know where to begin helping in the area of addiction and rehabilitation. Your unique approach to working with journalists is commendable. Thank you for inviting me, and thank you - thank you - thank you for the scholarship that enabled me to attend." "I more fully understand the topic. I better understand how complex both addiction and treatment are." "I was not expecting to be so fully interested and engaged throughout the entire program. It was excellent and exceeded all expectation. Thank you!" "The Addiction Studies Program was a wonderful opportunity to learn about addiction science from some of the top scientists in the country, and I'm honored to have been a part of it. I stayed over for the CPDD (College for Problems of Drug Dependence) meeting, and I found it very useful. While it's important for journalists to increase their personal knowledge base, this only pays off for you and the public at large if those journalists wind up applying their newly acquired knowledge by writing about substance abuse and addiction. That's where current research, such as that presented at the CPDD meeting, comes in. It gives us a news peg to hang our knowledge on - which, in practical terms, gives us a way to pitch marketable story ideas to editors. I think it would be a great idea to combine the meetings again next year." "I guess I hoped for more conclusive discovery of the magic formulas. They aren't there, and that was useful to know. But paths of research and treatment were laid out, so I'll be better prepared to understand the complexities of subject." "I was aware of some of this, but the neuroscience and molecular details were new." "I'd like to do this again." "The details - neurobiological chemistry - provided a good foundation of information." "I am much more knowledgeable about this issue and approach to it." "The workshop was very stimulating and productive." "Great speakers - great faculty - thank you!" "I think the workshop will improve my understanding of addiction!" "I liked best the close interaction between scientists and journalists!" "I learned so much more than I thought I would and am now fascinated by the science behind drug addiction." "I liked best the lectures on the science and scientific advancements in the field of addiction studies." "I'm so grateful I was able to attend this workshop. I'm a firm believer that it is the journalist's responsibility to effectively bridge the communication gap between scientists and the public. Journalists can begin to do this by attending workshops like this to strengthen their understanding of the science behind important health issues and subsequently feed the public easy-to-swallow messages. This is how science can most effectively influence public policy." "It will certainly make me think of addiction as a multifaceted problem; that it's not a moral weakness or failing, and that it has a strong genetic component." "The workshop gave me a broader view of the problem." "I liked best the openness of the professors, and their enthusiasm about the topic." Syllabus continued 10:50 Break 11:00 Lecture/Discussion Neurobiology of Behavior David Friedman 12:40 Lunch 1:45 Lecture/Discussion The Pharmacology of Drug Addiction Shelly Schwartz?Bloom 3:30 Break 3:50 General Discussion 4:15 Sources of Scientifically Reliable Information on the Web Sue Rusche 5:00 Adjourn 7:30 Dinner Dinner Speaker Susan Rook Saturday, June 16, 2001 8:45 Review and Preview Jack Strandhoy 9:00 Lecture/Discussion Genetic Factors in Addiction Kent Vrana 10:30 Break 10:45 College for Problems of Drug Dependence Michael Kuhar 11:00 Review and Summary Neurobiology of Addiction 12:15 Lunch 1:30 Lecture/Discussion Treatment for Drug Addiction Tom McClellan 3:00 Break 3:20 Lecture/Discussion Treatment Medications?What is on the Horizon? Herb Kleber 4:30 Sum Up 5:00 Evaluations 5:30 Adjourn