The Clinical Trials Network (CTN) was established to bridge the gap between addiction researchers and the clinicians treating addicted patients.  The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, in joint collaboration with community substance abuse treatment programs in Dallas, Ft. Worth, Austin, and El Paso, has been awarded a 5-year grant by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to participate in this collaborative effort.  The UT Southwestern site, called the Texas Node, will join sixteen other academic centers and surrounding community treatment programs across the country in the CTN.  The purpose of the CTN is two-fold:  to conduct studies of behavioral and/or pharmacological treatment interventions for substance abuse disorders in multi-site trials, and to transfer research results to treatment providers and their patients with the goal of improving the quality of drug abuse treatment throughout the country.  CTN treatment studies are generated by researchers and practitioners within the CTN network and NIDA.  The Principal Investigator of the Texas Node is Dr. Bryon Adinoff.

Community treatment programs participating in the Texas Node include seven partner sites and four ancillary sites.

Partner Community Treatment Programs:
• Dallas County Community Supervision and Corrections Department, Comprehensive Assessment and Treatment Services
• Dallas County Juvenile Department Substance Abuse Unit (SAU)
• Homeward Bound, Inc
• Nexus Recovery Center
• Solutions Outpatient Services
• Phoenix Houses of Texas, Inc
• Mental Health and Mental Retardation of Tarrant County (Addiction Services Division)
• Substance Abuse Program, VA North Texas Health Care System

Ancillary Community Treatment Programs:
• Greater Dallas Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (GDCADA)
• Parkland Health and Hospital System, HIV Service Line

Texas Node News

In February 2008, Texas CTPs (Homeward Bound, Nexus Recovery Center, Phoenix House, and the Dallas County Juvenile Department) received the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Advancing Recovery award to implement evidence-based practices and have focused on incorporating Motivational Interviewing into practice. The Gulf Coast Addiction Technology Transfer Center will be providing MIA:STEP Supervisory training this summer. The CTPs credit the impetus to apply for this grant to their involvement with the CTN.

Robrina Walker, Ph.D., at the Texas Node RRTC, was selected to receive a NIDA Travel Award to present her poster “Outcomes and Lessons Learned: Disseminating Contingency Management and Motivational Interviewing in Substance Abuse Treatment Programs” at the 2009 American Psychological Association Convention’s Early Career Poster Session co-sponsored by NIDA, NIAAA, and APA’s Divisions 28 and 50. Homeward Bound, Inc., Mental Health and Mental Retardation of Tarrant County, Nexus Recovery Center, and Phoenix House were participating CTPs in the projects. Co-authors include Traci Rosvall, B.S.; Craig Field, Ph.D., M.P.H; Jennifer Eells, Ph.D. (RUC Committee Member); and Bryon Adinoff, M.D. (Node PI).

Rebecca (Becca) Crowell, the Executive Director of Nexus Recovery Center in Dallas, was selected from among more than 130 nominations to be one of the 18 Associates for the first SAMHSA, CSAT’s Women’s Addiction Services Leadership Institute. Associates were selected based on their individual accomplishments, future aspirations, attributes and contributions they are likely to bring to the first class of Associates.