Considerable evidence suggests that personality traits may be changeable, raising the possibility that personality traits most linked to health problems can be modified with intervention. A growing body of research suggests that problematic personality traits may be altered with behavioral intervention using a bottom-up approach. That is, by…

This article presents abstracts from the 2011 AMERSA National Meeting. It includes 2011 best abstracts on research, programmatic, and curricular presentations.

This policy commentary addresses a significant access to care issue that faces methadone maintenance patients seeking residential treatment in the United States. Methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) has demonstrated strong efficacy in the outpatient treatment of opiate dependence. However, many opiate dependent patients are also in need of more…

Methamphetamine dependence is an emerging epidemic confronting physicians. In an effort to improve understanding of its impact, the authors presented an educational workshop at a national meeting for general internists featuring small group discussions with patients in recovery (PIR) from methamphetamine dependence. Participants rated the workshop…

The advantages of active learning methodologies have been suggested and empirically shown by a number of IS educators. Case studies are one such teaching technique that offers students the ability to think analytically, apply material learned, and solve a real-world problem. This paper presents a case study designed to be used in a database design…

Presents a Gestalt therapeutic approach that has shown promise within a drug treatment program. The major issues discussed include the acquisition of self-support, taking responsibility, dealing with anxiety, contact, and the expression of pent-up feelings. (Author)

This article describes a Web-based therapeutic workplace intervention designed to promote heroin and cocaine abstinence and train and employ participants as data entry operators. Patients are paid to participate in training and then to perform data entry jobs in a therapeutic workplace business. Salary is linked to abstinence by requiring patients…

This paper discusses a treatment approach to addiction counseling which emphasizes the need for information in the areas of major life problems, problem-causing behaviors, early family experiences, and self-esteem or self-image. This treatment process is outlined. The Danic Quick Personal Inventory Scale is presented in a sample case study.…

The Treatment Evaluation Project was established to evaluate the feasibility of using behavioral treatment in conjunction with methadone maintenance to improve the effectiveness of methadone treatment. Over 100 outpatients were accepted into treatment and randomly assigned to one of four behavioral treatment modalities in addition to the usual…

This article describes a research program to develop an operant treatment for cocaine addiction in low-income, treatment-resistant methadone patients. The treatment's central feature is an abstinence reinforcement contingency in which patients earn monetary reinforcement for providing cocaine-free urine samples. Success and failure of this…

In the treatment of addiction, the problem of motivating people into some form of treatment is sometimes the most difficult part of the process. In this paper, two forms of motivation into treatment are discussed. In the first, the person is treated like a child and someone, acting as the parent, forces the person into beginning the therapy…

The Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 (DATA-2000) allows qualified physicians to treat opioid-dependent patients with schedule III-V medications, such as buprenorphine, in practices separate from licensed, accredited opioid treatment programs. Physicians may attain this qualification by completing 8-hours of training in treating opioid…

This paper describes the results of the first year of the Eagleville Reading Academy and Satellite Program, a demonstration project funded by the U.S. Office of Education, Right to Read. Eagleville Hospital and Rehabilitation Center treats addicts and alcoholics in a combined abstinent therapeutic community program setting. The goals of the…