The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences recently
invested in establishing the Center for Addiction Research (CAR). Since being
established in August of 2004, the Center has been recruiting and hiring faculty
and staff and establishing its research programs. CAR now has 36 faculty and
staff and over $10 million in National Institutes of Health research support.
CAR projects involved the translation of basic behavioral and pharmacological
processes into methods to enhance outcomes during treatments for substance
dependence for adults and adolescents. Research efforts include the following:
1) gaining a better understanding of the loss of control and impulsive behavior
that leads to continued drug use despite negative outcomes or leads to relapse
during and after treatment; 2) examining the
cost effectiveness of various aspects of addiction treatment; 3) understanding parenting processes and how parent training can be used as a
prevention or intervention tool to reduce substance abuse and mental health
problems in children; 4) testing medications
for the treatment of drug dependence and withdrawal, including examining
participant characteristics (e.g., genetics, sex, race) that may influence
outcome; 5) understanding marijuana dependence to
develop better methods to assist quit attempts; and 6) the behavioral pharmacology/abuse liability of psychoactive compounds in
humans.
Targeted drugs include marijuana, opioids, psychostimulants such as cocaine and
methamphetamine, designer drugs (e.g., GHB), and nicotine. Investigators
have on-going collaborations with colleagues in several COM Departments,
including Endocrinology, Geriatrics, Pharmacology, and Anesthesiology as well as
the College of Public Health and the College of Pharmacy. Moreover, we are
integrating clinical research into existing UAMS treatment programs to
facilitate dissemination. |
Contact Us |
4301 W. Markham
Slot 843
Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
(phone) 501.526.7802
(fax) 501.526.7816
|
CAR News |
|
Center for Addiction Research launches new web site. Click here to view site. |
|
