Supporting Communities
In the late-1990s, the United States began to battle its worst-ever drug crisis. This epidemic has transformed the landscape of addiction in America and affected the lives of people in every community.
We are committed to expanding adoption of evidence-based practices and policies, informed by the latest scientific discoveries, to prevent and treat substance-related problems, especially among young people, and address critical health disparities. Achieving this goal requires collaborative engagement with patients and their families, other leading researchers and frontline clinicians, administrators from health care systems and academia, community representatives, and funding agencies.
Ways we support
To achieve our commitment to support communities and spearhead change in healthcare services for alcohol and other drug-related problems for young people, we engage in a strategic set of activities that spans partnering with local agencies and community groups, sharing knowledge, and informing policy. All our efforts are guided by the core principle that individuals, families, and communities have the right to be informed, involved, and empowered. Our ongoing activities include:
Partnering with local agencies to support individuals and families
Through our partnership with Bradley Hospital, we are committed to applying the latest scientific discoveries to deliver high-quality clinical care to teens affected by alcohol, marijuana, and other drug-related problems and their families. For more information, visit our Bradley Hospital website.
Consulting and sharing knowledge
We engage in outreach with community members, schools, health care professionals, policy makers, and other key stakeholders through consultation, workshops, lectures, and other knowledge sharing activities, such as newspaper and magazine articles and media interviews.
Informing and shaping public policy
We believe that policy change begins with conducting innovative and rigorous research aimed at answering relevant and timely questions. Effective dissemination of key findings is essential for guiding stakeholders to make informed policy decisions. We actively seek to increase the influence of research on policy through advocacy, publication of accessible scientific reviews and position statements, and participation in forums with policymakers.