January 2005 Workshop

On the introduction to pharmacological terms:
"A really good start for everything that followed."
"I thought he did an excellent job of making the terms understandable."

On the history of addiction in America:
"Very interesting presentation, and well-researched."
"Really enjoyed this portion. I would've liked for it to have gone longer."

On animal models of addiciton:
"Very good/solid info."

On the neurobiology of addiction:
"Greatly interested me. Probably the best part of the first day. Most useful information."
"This and the following were my favorites."

On the pharmacology of addiction:
"This was really the most fascinating explanation of what I see all the time in court/crime reporting."
"The speaker made this complex stuff easy to grasp."
"Great lesson! Would like more detail about how each drug works beyond the typical 3 abused substances."

On the genetics of substance abuse:
"Very interesting, well presented, not too complex."

On the personal side of addiction:
"While all these presentations are informative, this is the one that ties them all together and puts a human face on the addiction problem."
"I could've listened longer. She's great for this audience since she has the journalism background."

On principles of addiction treatment/medications:
"Another good presentation bringing the disease/moral issue home."
"Very good. Interesting to learn about medical institutions' struggles when it comes to addiction."
"Very interesting and practical."

On evaluating treatment:
"One of my favorite. Very engaging & interesting. Useful information kept my attention the entire time. For me, the data was surprising. This presentation broke my pre-notions of drug addiction."
"Loved this data. Such a clear statement on what really is going on in 'treatment' and society's non-commitment to real treatment & understanding the issue."

On treating the offender population:
"This guy really puts a lot of information on the table really fast. Very informative -- one of the best presentations for those unfamiliar with how courts work/don't work in treatment."
"Very much directly applicable to my job. I took the most story ideas from this topic."

On principles of prevention:
"Very good and informative."
"A bit technical but essential in understanding the discussions on evaluating treatment and [treating the] offender population."

On scientifically reliable sources of information on the internet:
"This is one of the most important things you can give reporters."
"Very comprehensive. I had no idea there were so many sources."
"Very helpful -- real tools that we will use."

Overall impressions:
"This far exceeded my expectations. My notebook is full."
"Very well planned & stocked with information. I was surprised at how good the speakers were. Insightful approach to advocating recovery & treatment without political agendas or bias."
"I came for the science and really, really got what I wanted. The criminal justice system connections were also top-notch."
"It was very well put together. It's obvious somebody spent a lot of time getting the best researchers in the field together for this workshop."

How participants think the workshop will help them with their reporting on substance abuse:
"Great sources -- not just speakers, but entire areas of study. Nice reality check for reporters -- that addicts are not all criminal or hopeless."
"I have a better understanding of the biology behind addiction and scientific findings on the issue."
"I'll always remember the brain chemistry connection. It really drove away the little demons that make you want to be judgmental."
"I believe I will be able to write more in-depth stories with an emphasis on addiction being a 'public health issue with public safety consequences.'"
"I will certainly be more accurate with terminology and I have a stack of the best resources and contacts."

What participants liked most about the workshop:
"I liked all of it. But my favorites were the history presentation along with neurobiology of addiction, personal story and evaluating treatment."
"A lot of effort went into making very complicated material as simple as possible."
"Everything -- this has been one of the best planned conferences I've attended."
"The speakers' resumes and their willingness to be sources for us later."

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

Brian R. Flay, D.Phil.
UIC Distinguished Professor
Institute for Health Research and Policy
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Jennifer Logan, Ph.D.
Co-Director, Genetic Science Learning Center
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah

Douglas B. Marlowe, J.D., Ph.D.
Director, Section on Criminal Justice Research
Treatment Research Institute
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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

Karen A. Miotto, MD
Associate Clinical Professor - Associate Director
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences
Neuropsychiatric Institute
University of California - Los Angeles

Susan Rook
Recovery Advocate
Alexandria, Virginia

Rochelle “Shelly” Schwartz-Bloom, Ph.D.
Professor of Pharmacology
Duke University Medical Center
Department of Pharmacology & Cancer Biology
Durham, North Carolina

Jack W. Strandhoy, Ph.D.
Professor
Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Monica L. Pace
Coordinator
Addiction Studies Program for Journalists
Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Department of physiology and Pharmacology
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Monday, January 10

8:30 Welcome and Introductions
David Friedman and Sue Rusche

8:45 Introduction to Pharmacological Terms
Jack Strandhoy

9:15 A History of Drug Abuse and Addiction in the U.S.
Sue Rusche

10:00 Animal Models of Addiction
Jack Strandhoy

10:15 Break

10:30 The Neurobiology of Addiction
David Friedman

12:00 Lunch

1:00 The Pharmacology of Addiction
Shelly Schwartz-Bloom

2:30 Break

2:45 The Genetics of Substance Abuse
Jennifer Logan

4:15 Scientifically Reliable Sources of Information
Sue Rusche

4:45 Evaluations

5:00 Adjourn

6:00 Reception at DEA Museum

7:30 Dinner at Marriott

Tuesday, January 11

8:45 A Personal Story of Addiction
Susan Rook

9:45 Break

10:00 Principles of Addiction Treatment, including Medications
Karen Miotto

11:30 Lunch

12:30 Evaluating Treatment
Tom McClellan

2:00 Break

2:15 Principles of Prevention
Brian Flay

3:30 Treating the Offender Population
Doug Marlowe

4:45 Evaluations

5:00 Adjourn