Boston University Center for Addictions Research and Services

Current Projects

Lena M. Lundgren, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator

"La Voz: HIV Mobile Prevention And Clinical Care For Latino Injection Drug Users"
2006-2011
Funded by Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

This new intervention will provide mobile HIV outreach, education, testing and mental health counseling services in the Western Massachusetts ’ region provided by one of the Center’s long time collaborators, Tapestry Health. The Western Massachusetts geographic area has one of the highest HIV incidence rates related to injection drug use in the nation and the Latino population is disproportionately affected by the epidemic. Through this new effort, La Voz will acquire and adapt a van to serve as a mobile program facility. Outreach workers, trained in motivational interviewing techniques, will provide HIV risk avoidance education and supplies, as well as referrals to van medical and mental health staff and to substance abuse treatment services. A trained nurse on the van will conduct HIV testing, and STI and Hepatitis testing. A full time mental health counselor will also be on the van to provide mental health screening, counseling and referrals to psychiatric care. The Center for Addictions Research and Services team will over a five year time period both conduct a comprehensive outcome evaluation of this effort and train La Voz mobile van workers on using evidence based-services.

"Outcome Study: The Relapse Prevention Initiative: Trauma Counseling Services To Drug Users"
2004-2009
Funded by Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Funds for this project include: (1) Award to Casa Esperanza of Boston, Massachusetts, to provide enhanced residential drug treatment services including trauma counseling services to recovering substance abusers and, (2) Award to Boston University School of Social Work (BUSSW) to conduct a five year study examining the effectiveness of the Casa Esperanza effort. The purpose of the study is to measure the effectiveness of adding Trauma Recovery Group Treatment and comprehensive Aftercare Services to existing Casa Esperanza residential drug treatment services. The study will identify whether the intervention resulted in: (1) reduced client drug and alcohol relapse rates (as measured through a drug and alcohol use scale from the CSAT GPRA Client Outcome Measures for Discretionary Programs; (2) increased number of clients domiciled; (3) improved psychological and emotional well-being (ASI mental health score and the Dissociative Experiences Scale score will be used); and (4) increased family stability.

"Outcome Evaluation: Men's HIV Prevention Health Project"
2003-2008
Funded by Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

The purpose of this study is to examine the enhancements in treatment effectiveness and efficiency that result from adding intensive prevention case management to standard outreach activities when providing services to men having sex with men (MSM) who are substance abusers. A quasi-experimental research design with a comparison group is used to examine whether adding an intensive, culturally-sensitive prevention case management (PCM) component to standard community outreach health prevention services increases the likelihood that a population of adult MSMs will have: (1) no past month use of alcohol or illegal drugs; (2) no or reduced alcohol or illegal drug consequences; (3) improved self-sufficiency through employment, other legal income or public assistance; (4) improved social support and functioning including improved family and social relationships, no or reduced involvement with the criminal justice system and permanent housing in the community; (5) good or improved health and mental health status; and (6) improved treatment efficacy including appropriate service utilization, improved program retention and increased program completion. In addition, data will be gathered that will allow for the testing of outcomes that are more specific to this target population. Data will be used to determine whether the intervention will increase the likelihood that study participants will have HIV testing, HCV testing, STI testing, enter mental health and substance abuse treatment, enter job training, and increase condom use. Data will also be gathered that will lead to increased understanding of the nature and variety of substances used by the target population (e.g., methamphetamines, club drugs) as well as research into the role of race/ethnicity and sexual identity in substance use.

"Outcome Evaluation Of Project La Voz, An HIV Prevention"
2002-2007
Funded by Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

The purpose of this project is to examine the impact of adding intensive prevention case management to standard outreach activities provided by Tapestry Health Services and targeted to a population of Latino Injection Drug Users (IDUs) residing in Springfield, Massachusetts. Specifically, a quasi-experimental research design with a matched control group will be used to examine whether adding an intensive, culturally-sensitive prevention case management (PCM) component to standard community outreach, health prevention services will increase the likelihood that the population of Latino IDUs will: (1) participate in HIV testing, Hepatitis C testing, STD testing, and enter drug treatment; (2) reduce needle sharing; and (3) increase condom use. These outcomes for the first 250 Latino IDUs who receive PCM services will be compared to the outcomes for the first 250 Latino IDUs who only participate in standard outreach activities. These two groups (N=500) will be matched on race/ethnicity, injection use (injected in the past 30 days), community of residence, approximate age and gender. Participants will be tracked according to place of origin, with distinctions drawn between island-born and mainland-born Latinos in Springfield.

Maryann Amodeo, M.S.W., Ph.D.
Principal Investigator

“Predicting Resilient Outcomes From Childhood Stresses And Resources: Black Women And White Women With And Without Alcoholic Parents”
2003-2007
Funding from the Greater Boston Council on Alcoholism

Study aims are (1) to determine whether black women and white women from families with and without alcoholic parents differ in adult psychosocial outcomes and (2) to identify stresses and resources in childhood that account for different adult outcomes by parental alcoholism status and race in a community sample of 300 women. Subjects were blind to the purpose of the research, responding to flyers that advertised a “family study” and participating in a screening interview that did not disclose the specific purpose of the research. Subjects completed standardized questionnaires and participated in a face-to- face interview. The final sample was balanced by race, parental alcoholism status, and socioeconomic status. Unique aspects of the study include w omen varied in age, race, and socioeconomic background; subjects recruited from the community rather than treatment populations; childhood risk factors and adulthood outcomes examined together rather than in isolation from one another; a range of risk factors including childhood sexual and physical abuse and parental psychopathology; a range of adulthood outcomes such as psychosocial adjustment, life satisfaction, self-esteem and coping methods in addition to substance abuse. Data on childhood family environment and parental behavior was also collected from siblings as a reliability check on subject reports.

“Introducing Evidence-Based Practices In Addiction Settings Using Organization Development Methods”
2001-2007
Funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse through a grant to Boston Medical Center and Subcontract to the Boston University School of Social Work

Although federal agencies have made dissemination of evidence-based practices (EBPs) in addiction settings a major national priority, gaps remain in technology transfer to community agencies. We collaborated with four urban addiction treatment programs to facilitate the introduction of EBPs using Organization Development (OD) methods. The OD approach is based on the theory and technology of applied behavioral science, including action research, to bring about change. In effect, it engages the system in an organizational assessment, an organizational diagnosis, and an organization-specific treatment plan. In this study, employee work teams, with the authors as consultants, identified areas for treatment improvement, developed change strategies, and implemented change plans with the overall explicit goal of introducing EBPs into their addiction treatment setting. We are examining changes in organizational policies and procedures and improvements in practitioner skills. The introduction of EBPs may be premature for some addiction programs as addressing more fundamental aspects of client-clinician interaction and agency treatment philosophy may first be required. Preliminary findings are that the OD approach is complementary to other technology transfer efforts by being: (a) “organization-centered,” engaging practitioners at all levels; (b) “needs-focused,” addressing issues identified by the particular organization; (c) flexible in its responsiveness to a range of organizations at various stages of readiness for change; and (d) relatively affordable.

Maryann Amodeo, M.S.W., Ph.D.
Co-Principal Investigator

“Technology To Enhance Addiction Counseling And Helping (TEACH) CBT”
2003-2008
Funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health though a grant to the New England Research Institutes, Inc., and Subcontract to the Boston University School of Social Work

This study, TEACH CBT, designed and tested a web course to supplement the often limited continuing educational opportunities available for substance abuse counselors. The web course presents the techniques of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with c ontent developed by experts from several institutions and based on many sources including NIDA’s CBT treatment manual. The course (a) is composed of 8 modules inclusive of 16 hours of on-line training and off-line assignments, (b) is available to counselors 24 hours/day, 7 days/week, (c) provides numerous handouts and access to a discussion board, (d) engages the user with interactivity and exercises, and (e) presents material in multiple formats, resulting in a unique learning opportunity for counselors. A randomized controlled trial with 120 counselors from substance abuse treatment agencies in New England is assessing the effectiveness of this web course design in comparison to manual-based CBT training alone on several outcomes: a) knowledge of CBT, b) attitudes towards using evidence-based practices and CBT interventions, and, c) specific CBT counseling strategies utilized (assessed from audio-tapes of client sessions).