Monitor on Psychology - January 2012 - (Page 45)

legislators tend to target substance abuse and sexuality research, she said. “It used to be people said these studies had no scientific merit. Now you hear people say, ‘It’s just not a priority,’” she said. Most recently, Rep. Darrel Issa (R-Calif.) proposed an amendment to rescind NIH funding for four studies, including two run by psychologists. One study was criticized because it investigated students’ malt liquor and marijuana use. The study used its $389,357 in federal funding in part to have students call in and report their previous 24 hours of substance use. That’s important research because more targeted prevention and intervention strategies are needed for young adults living in low-income urban communities who may combine alcohol and marijuana, increasing their risk of addiction, Studwell said. The other study under attack found that giving rats a synthetic cannabinoid enhanced the effect of morphine the next day. Such research could lead to better treatments for the more than 50 million Americans who suffer from chronic pain, Studwell said. While the amendment was ultimately withdrawn and none of the projects lost their funding, Congress continues to question funding priorities across the federal government as it seeks to constrain government spending. To defend against future attacks on research funding, SciLC attendees explained how the peer-review process works to legislators and their staff. They emphasized that at most agencies, two different review boards vet proposals for their scientific merit and fit with the mission of the agency. “As you know, this isn’t just a case of people giving out money to their friends,” Studwell said. n Bringing evidence to policymakers Amid all the talk of reduced funding, peer-review challenges and research needs, several speakers offered attendees hopeful stories of how science can inform policies and improve public health: • Jack henningfield, PhD, whose two decades of evidence-based advocacy helped inform the Food and Drug Administration’s rules on limiting youth access to tobacco and regulating tobacco as a drug, used his keynote address to talk about the small steps that lead to larger victories. Henningfield was given a presidential citation by APA President Melba vasquez, in recognition of his outstanding scientific contributions to reducing the toll of tobacco dependence and to enhancing tobacco control. • Richard Spoth, PhD, head of the Partnerships in Prevention Science Institute at Iowa State University, discussed how he and other researchers provided input to the office of national Drug Control Policy on evidence-based strategies for developing a national prevention system. “Most of the programs implemented on a dayto-day basis in our communities have not been evaluated,” he said. He and a task force of other researchers from the Society for Prevention research worked to bring evidence-based prevention strategies — such as working with public schools and university extension services — into the new national drug control strategy. • Betty tai, PhD, director of the Center for Clinical trials network at the national Institute on Drug Abuse, described how the center coordinates research among university researchers and community providers, to bring evidence-based substance abuse treatments to patients in community practice settings. “enormous amounts of knowledge are barreling down the information highway, but they are not arriving at the doorsteps of our patients,” Tai said, quoting Claude Lenfant, a former director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Ctn’s nationwide network of researchers — at 57 universities and more than 200 methadone centers, hospitals, rehab centers and other sites — are aiming to change that, tai said. Since 1999, they’ve conducted 28 clinical trials with 14,000 patients, studying behavioral, medical and combined behavioral/medical interventions. Ctn also makes all of its published studies and trial data available to researchers through a public website. Initial research, tai said, focuses on “benchto-bedside” questions, such as how the brain works and how certain treatments affect it. the Ctn focuses on “bedside-to-practice” questions of how to safely and effectively deliver those treatments. “We’re focusing on how to deliver effective and cost-effective treatment,” tai said. J a n u a ry 2 0 1 2 • M o n i t o r o n p s y c h o l o g y 45

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Monitor on Psychology - January 2012

Monitor on Psychology - January 2012
Letters
President’s Column
Contents
Contents
From the CEO
Apa’s Statement on the Dsm-5 Development Process
Girl Scouts Badge Promotes Positive Psychology
Early Investments Pay Off for Poor Children, Study Finds
Apa Meets With Chinese Psychological Society to Further Interaction and Exchange
Unique Opportunity for Psychologists to Travel to Cuba
In Brief
Government Relations Update
On Your Behalf
Psychology’s Growing Library of Podcasts
Standing Up for Psychology
Judicial Notebook
Random Sample
Time Capsule
Questionnaire
Science Watch
Beyond Psychotherapy
Perspective on Practice
Yes, Recovery Is Possible
Inequity to Equity
Making E-Learning Work
New Standards for High School Psychology
A Trailblazer Moves On
Psychologist Profile
Plan Now for Psychology’s Regional Meetings
New Journal Editors
Apa News
Division Spotlight
American Psychological Foundation
Personalities

Monitor on Psychology - January 2012

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