What is NIDA s Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (CTN)?
Clinical trials are research studies that answer specific questions about new treatments for health conditions such as drug addiction. NIDA s CTN seeks to test new treatments for drug addiction, both medication and behavioral-based, in community settings. NIDA has established a network of CTN centers across the country. Each center partners with several community treatment programs where patient volunteers are recruited for clinical trials. Researchers and practitioners involved in the CTN work together to determine treatment concepts to be tested. To date, eight different treatment protocols and three survey studies have been completed in our national clinical trials infrastructure. NIDA researchers are also training providers in the delivery of such treatments and, in so doing, are beginning to infuse evidence-based practices into the diverse culture of community treatment. This, in turn, is leading to advances in the way treatment is provided in this country. Researchers, community
