NIDA Anniversary Event Spotlights Addiction Research
In recognition of the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s (NIDA) 50th anniversary, the College on Problems of Drug Dependence and the Friends of NIDA in cooperation with U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) co-sponsored a roundtable discussion on May 14 at the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C.
NIDA is the world’s largest funder of research on substance use and addiction. Over the last half-century, NIDA-supported research has transformed the public’s understanding of substance use prevention and treatment and paved the way for life-saving public health interventions.
The event, moderated by NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow, featured a discussion on the progress and promise of addiction research. Panelists included Jeremy Byard of harm reduction services at the Arthur Street Hotel in Kentucky, Dr. Sandra Comer of Columbia University Medical Center, Dr. Gail D’Onofrio of Yale School of Medicine and Dr. Hansel Tookes of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
The event also featured remarks from Kaine, U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY), U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Dr. Rahul Gupta, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.—Molly Freimuth