September 14-15, 2005 Workshop

On the neurobiology of addiction:
"I found this well-balanced in lecture and discussion and appreciated the use of layman's terms as opposed to research lingo and technical terms. Very clear presentation of neurobiology and its applicability to the program topics."
"Actually it was surprisingly interesting. The title was intimidating, but the presentation style made all the difference."

On evaluating prevention:
"I do not think it could be improved - it was information that I needed and was well presented."
"Good info and interesting presentation."

On evaluating treatment:
"Excellent comparisons on chronic disease."
"Tom made an excellent case of the fact that drug abuse is an illness. I would love to have my legislators listen to his talk! His point really hit home."

On the visit to a treatment center:
"I loved the trip to the methadone clinic. Really learned first hand what people go through. Cleared up a lot of misconceptions."
"The tour was an eye-opener."

On the personal side of addiction:
"Very moving - valuable information given. Helps support other information on success of treatment."
"Wonderful to hear from an addict. I admire his candor. I liked the informality of it - the environment allowed us all to be comfortable and share our thoughts."

On the history of drug abuse in America:
"Helps to understand where we came from and where we are."

On alcohol and the adolescent brain:
"Very informative on brain development among adolescents. Eye opening."
"Very helpful in recognizing the need for prevention with our children. It helps to understand the reason for teen behavior."
"Very energetic - thanks for engaging questions and allowing for some related tangential discussions. Very practical information and clear presentation of 'technical' information."

On treating the offender population:
"Interesting to see what works and what doesn't. Good info to use in shaping policy."

On the problems of methamphetamine:
"Good to hear that what we thought was common knowledge was simply myths. Encouraging to see success through the right treatment."
"Very clear and applicable to my position in the legislature."

On the economics of substance abuse:
"Summed up everything we have been hearing for the past two days. It really put a price tag on treatment for these addicts."

Overall impressions:
"I was very impressed with the program and all of the speakers were very knowledgeable. I especially enjoyed the methadone clinic and the public testimony."
"I found this conference to be very informative. It has been one of the most beneficial programs I have ever been to. I am definitely taking my new found knowledge with me back to [redacted] and going to integrate it into policy and legislation."
"Very good. These are the kind of things legislators need to make sound policy decisions."

How participants think the workshop will help them with making policy regarding substance abuse:
"The newer studies on long term effects and the information on meth made me understand that treatment or continuing care needs to be longer than I had previously thought."
"More understanding to the strength of the addiction. Better feel for need of long term continuous care."

What participants liked most about the workshop:
"The lectures and vast knowledge that was shared with me. The presenters' awesome wealth of info, the tour of the clinic, speaking with former addicts, the friendliness of everyone."
"Learning about development and function of brain, especially as it is affected by drugs. By understanding more about addiction and the means of successful treatment I am better prepared to set policy."
"The topics discussed were right on, you could tell there was a lot of thought and research put into each topic and speaker that was chosen."

Sue Rusche
Co-Director
Addiction Studies Program for Journalists
Chairman, President, and CEO
National Families in Action
Atlanta, Georgia

A. Tom McLellan, Ph.D.
Director, Treatment Research Institute
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Allison C. Colker, J.D., Esq.
Senior Policy Specialist
National Conference of State Legislatures
Washington, D.C.

Paul De Young
Research Analyst
National Conference of State Legislatures
Washington, D.C.

Rick Harwood
Vice President
The Lewin Group
Falls Church, Virginia

Sam Minsky
Senior Clinician
Matrix Institute
Los Angeles, California

Jill Peters
Administrative Assistant
Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Debra Prosnitz
Research Analyst
National Conference of State Legislatures
Washington, D.C.

Chris Ringwalt, DrPH, Director
Chapel Hill Center
Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation
Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Laurie O. Robinson
Director, Master of Science Program
Department of Criminology
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Charles B. Roth
Representative
Salina, Kansas

Ken C. Winters, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Psychiatry
Director, Center for Adolescent Substance Abuse Research
Univeristy of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Wednesday, September 14

8:00 Welcome and Introductions
Allison Colker

8:15 The Neurobiology of Addiction
David Friedman

9:45 Break

10:00 Prevention: What Works, What Doesn't
Chris Ringwalt

11:30 Is Addiction Treatment Effective?
Tom McLellan

1:00 Lunch

2:30 Visit a treatment center

6:30 Dinner
Speaker, Representative Charles Roth

Thursday, September 15

8:00 A History of Drug Abuse and Addiction in the U.S.
Sue Rusche

9:00 Alcohol and the Adolescent Brain: Tastes Great, Less Functioning
Ken Winters

10:30 Break

10:45 Treating the Offender Population
Laurie Robinson

12:15 Lunch

1:15 Methamphetamine: How It Influences the Brain and Behavior of Users and Treatment Implications
Sam Minsky

2:45 Break

3:00 On the Economics of Substance Abuse
Rick Harwood

4:30 Evaluations

5:00 Adjourn