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Frequently Asked Questions

CAR FAQs

What does the Center for Addiction Research do?

How does CAR receive funding?

Can CAR treat other psychiatric problems?

 CAR Volunteer FAQs

What is the referral/admission process?

Are studies confidential?

Will I be paid?

 Addiction FAQs
(Provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse)

What drugs are commonly abused?

What is a drug addiction?

How quickly can I become addicted to a drug?

How do I know if someone is addicted to drugs?

Where can I find information about drug treatment programs?

What are the costs of drug abuse to society?

 

CAR FAQs

What does the Center for Addiction Research do?

CAR conducts addiction research. The Center has a commitment to research with important implications for treatment, prevention and the clinical significance of substance use.

How does CAR receive funding?

CAR receives funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) .  Each faculty member submits applications for funding in his/her area of expertise to the NIH.  Through a very competitive process, our faculty has received over $10 million in grant funding.

Can CAR treat other psychiatric problems?

Although CAR does not specifically treat other psychiatric problems, the UAMS Department of Psychiatry is a leading education and clinical care center.  The more than 70 faculty members (50 MDs and 20 PhDs) have a vast knowledge in psychiatric problems and leading edge treatments.  You can contact the Department at 501.686.5900.

CAR Volunteer FAQs

What is the referral/admission process?

Any one can request to participate in our research studies; however, each study has certain criteria that must be met before participating.  Find out more about participating by visiting our Participate in Research section.

Are studies confidential?

UAMS policy is to protect the privacy and confidentiality of medical records and information contained in the medical records of persons who are participants in UAMS research projects. 

 

Will I be paid?

Persons volunteering to participate in a research study may be compensated for his/her time. Compensation varies across studies.

Addiction FAQs (Provided by NIDA)

What drugs are commonly abused?

The table below is provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

 

MTF 2005 Data for 30-day Use*

Drug/Type of Drug

8th grade

10th grade

12th grade

Any Illicit Drug

8.5%

17.3%

23.1%

Nicotine/Tobacco
- Cigarettes
- Smokeless Tobacco


9.3%
3.3%


14.9%
5.6%


23.7%
7.6%

Marijuana

6.6%

15.2%

19.8%

Inhalants

4.2%

2.2%

2.0%

Methamphetamine

0.7%

1.1%

0.9%

Ecstasy (MDMA)

0.6%

1.0%

1.0%

Cocaine

1.0%

1.5%

2.3%

Heroin

0.5%

0.5%

0.5%

 

 

 

 

MTF 2005 Data for Annual Use*

Prescription Drugs

8th grade

10th grade

12th grade

Ritalin

2.4%

3.4%

4.4%

Tranquilizers

2.8%

4.8%

6.8%

Amphetamines

4.9%

7.8%

8.6%

Anabolic Steroids

1.1%

1.3%

1.5%

OxyContin

1.8%

3.2%

5.5%

Vicodin

2.6%

5.9%

9.5%

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* "Lifetime" refers to use at least once during a respondent's lifetime. "Annual" refers to use at least once during the year preceding an individual's response to the survey. "30-day" refers to use at least once during the 30 days preceding an individual's response to the survey

What is a drug addiction?

According to NIDA, drug addiction is a complex brain disease. It is characterized by drug craving, seeking, and use that can persist even in the face of extremely negative consequences. Drug-seeking may become compulsive in large part as a result of the effects of prolonged drug use on brain functioning and, thus, on behavior. For many people, relapses are possible even after long periods of abstinence.

How quickly can I become addicted to a drug?

There is no easy answer to this. If and how quickly you might become addicted to a drug depends on many factors. All drugs are potentially harmful and may have life-threatening consequences associated with their abuse. There are also vast differences among individuals in sensitivity to various drugs. While one person may use a drug one or many times and suffer no ill effects, another person may be particularly vulnerable and overdose with first use. There is no way of knowing in advance how someone may react.

How do I know if someone is addicted to drugs?

If a person is compulsively seeking and using a drug despite negative consequences, such as loss of job, debt, physical problems brought on by drug abuse, or family problems, then he or she probably is addicted. Seek professional help to determine if this is the case and, if so, the appropriate treatment.

Where can I find information about drug treatment programs?

Please visit our Clinical Research Volunteer Opportunities page to find out more information on programs offered by CAR. Additionally, a list of Arkansas Substance Abuse Treatment centers is located under Links.

For referrals to treatment programs nationwide, call 1-800-662-HELP, or visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration online at http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/.

  What are the costs of drug abuse to society?

It is estimated that in 2002 illegal drug use cost America close to $181 billion:

  • $129 billion in lost productivity

  • $16 billion in healthcare costs

  • $36 billion in other costs, such as efforts to stem the flow of drugs.


Beyond the raw numbers are other costs to society:

  • spread of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C either through sharing of drug paraphernalia or unprotected sex

  • deaths due to overdose or other complications from drug use

  • effects on unborn children of pregnant drug users

  • other effects such as crime and homelessness.

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UAMS - Center for Addiction Research
4301 West Markham, #843 • Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
Telephone: (501) 526-7802 • Fax: (501) 526-7816