Minutes of the 88th Meeting of the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse

September 21-22, 2004

The National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse convened its 88th meeting at 2:00 p.m. on September 21, 2004 in Conference Room C, Neuroscience Center, National Institutes of Health, 6001 Executive Boulevard, Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Nora D. Volkow, Director of NIDA, chaired the overall meeting, and Dr. Timothy P. Condon, Deputy Director of NIDA, chaired the application reviews. The meeting on September 21 was for the purpose of reviewing applications for Federal grant assistance and was open only to Council members and Federal employees. The meeting reconvened on September 22 at 8:00 a.m. and was open to the public. The Council adjourned September 22 at 9:25 a.m.

Council Members Present:

Rodolfo Arredondo, Jr., Ed.D.
Jeanne Brooks-Gunn, Ph.D.
Dorothy K. Hatsukami, Ph.D.
Kenneth J. Hoffman, M.D., M.P.H. (ex officio)
Bankole A. Johnson, M.D., Ph.D.
Peter W. Kalivas, Ph.D.
Herbert D. Kleber, M.D.
Thomas E. Lucking, Ed.S.
Robert C. Malenka, M.D., Ph.D.
Patricia I. Ordorica, M.D.
Linda J. Porrino, Ph.D.
Scott A. Reines, M.D., Ph.D.
Peggy B. Sapp
Claire E. Sterk, Ph.D.
Jose Szapocznik, Ph.D.
David Vlahov, Ph.D.
Robert L. Woodson, Sr., M.S.W.
Nancy R. Zahniser, Ph.D.

Council Members Absent:

Richard T. Suchinsky, M.D. (ex officio)
Constance M. Weisner, Dr.P.H.

Council Chairs Present:

Nora D. Volkow, M.D.
Timothy Condon, Ph.D.

Executive Secretary:

Teresa Levitin, Ph.D.

Federal Employees Present:

National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, DHHS

Other Federal Employees Present:

Luci Roberts, Ph.D. - Center for Scientific Review, NIH

Members of the Public Present:

Jack Blaine, M.D. - Contractor
Caryn Blitz, Ph.D. - Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America
Anne Bowen - MasiMax Resources
Ellen Buczko, Ph.D. - Contractor
Jennifer Columbel - National Association of Drug Court Professionals
Mary Dufour, M.D. - CSR, Incorporated
Melissa Frederick - Substance Abuse Finding Report
Cheryl Kassed, Ph.D., M.S.P.H. - MasiMax Resources
Mary Kratage - MasiMax Resources
Joan Levy-Zlotnik, Ph.D. - Institute for the Advancement of Social Work Research
Rob Morrison - National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors
Jan Ozga - National Association for Children of Alcoholics
Kristin Plakuski - American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Jane Sanielle - ONDCP
Joan L. Zlotnik - Institute for the Advancement of Social Work Research
Daniel Tisch - MasiMax Resources, Inc.
Roy Walker - CSR, Incorporated
Barb Wanchis, Ph.D. - Federation of Behavioral, Psychological and Cognitive Sciences
Mary Westcott, Ph.D. - Contractor
Lori Whitten, Ph.D. - MasiMax Resources, Inc.

1. Call to Order

   This portion of the meeting was closed to the public in accordance with sections 552b(c) (4) and 552b(c) (6), Title 5, U.S. Code and section 10(d) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2).

   Dr. Timothy P. Condon, Deputy Director of NIDA, called the meeting to order and welcomed the Council and staff. Dr. Condon provided an overview of the agenda for the meeting and reminded those present that the Federal Advisory Committee Act applies to Council meetings and that the meeting was closed to the public. Dr. Teresa Levitin, Executive Secretary, summarized voting policies and procedures, provided detailed instructions on Council review procedures, and reminded those present about NIH confidentiality and conflict of interest policies.

2. Application Reviews

   In turn, the Director or a designee for the Office of Science Policy and Communications; the Division of Basic Neuroscience and Behavioral Research; the Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Development and Behavioral Treatment; the Division of Epidemiology, Services and Prevention Research; and the Division of Pharmacotherapies and Medical Consequences of Drug Abuse presented their applications for consideration by the Council. For each, Council provided concurrence with the initial scientific reviews en bloc. A request for one MERIT extension was reviewed.

   Members must absent themselves from the Council meetings during discussion of, and voting on, applications from their own institutions or other applications in which there is a conflict of interest, real or apparent. Conflict of interest statements were signed by each member. Members were not required to leave if an application in conflict with that member was acted upon en bloc.

   For this Council, 1,137 applications, requesting $1,125,491,020 in Total Years Direct Costs, went to review. Of these, 687 were scored by the Scientific Review Groups (SRGs), representing $167,995,770 in First Year Direct Costs and $720,709,380 in Total Years Direct Costs. Council concurred with the SRGs in time and amount. The Council approved one MERIT extension.

1. Call to Order

   Dr. Nora D. Volkow, Director of NIDA, called the open portion of the meeting to order and welcomed the Council members, NIDA staff, and visitors. She reminded the Council and audience that the meeting was open to the public in compliance with the Government in the Sunshine Act and indicated that time would be provided for public comment. Dr. Volkow also called attention to future Council dates.

2. Consideration of the Minutes of Council

   The Minutes of the May 19-20, 2004 meeting were approved as written.

3. NIDA Director's Report

   Dr. Volkow began her report by expressing NIDA's appreciation of service to those Council members whose terms were expiring, Dr. Robert Malenka, Dr. Jose Szapocznik and Dr. Scott Reines. A certificate of appreciation and plaque were presented to each.

   Budget

   Dr. Volkow reported on the NIDA estimated budget for FY 2005. If there were to be an increase of 2.9% over the FY 2004 appropriation, NIDA's budget would be slightly over one billion dollars.

   Emerging Issues

   Dr. Volkow reported a dramatic increase across all ages in the use of nonmedical prescription drugs, particularly opiates. She added that millions of Americans abuse prescription drugs. Dr. Volkow noted that NIDA has a prescription drug abuse workgroup and the program announcement on Prescription Drug Abuse was reissued in June 2004. NIDA has several other activities in this area. Dr. Volkow reported that the Clinical Trials Network has three new clinical trials: 1) to evaluate hepatotoxicity from buprenorphine, 2) to treat opiate analgesics addiction, and 3) to treat ADHD in substance abusers. Dr. Volkow noted that Subutex and Suboxone tablets have received FDA approval for treatment of opioid addiction, and that 5,000 physicians have been trained in the use of buprenorphine and over 3,000 are approved to prescribe these medications.

   Dr. Volkow noted that marijuana is the most abused illegal substance although no treatment medication is available for marijuana dependence. NIDA organized a consultant's meeting, "Medications Development for Cannabis Dependence," in April 2004. This group made recommendations that included using Marinol to reduce withdrawal symptoms, developing incentives for pharmaceutical companies, improving physician/counselor training, and studying more marketed medications. A recently released RFA on Medications Development for Cannabis-related Disorder was highly successful and resulted in 8 grants and 2 pilot projects that are to be funded.

   Dr. Volkow reported that the Division of Basic Neuroscience and Behavioral Research is focusing on discovering why some individuals become addicted when exposed to drugs and some do not. She noted that 40-50% of the vulnerability to addiction is genetic and that NIDA plans to work with Perlegen Sciences to identify drug addiction loci. A group studying nicotine genetics from the NIDA Genetics Consortium competed for access to the Perlegen resource and the request was granted.

   Dr. Volkow noted that 60-83% of the U.S. adult offender population was under the influence of drugs during an offense or committed an offense to support a drug addiction or were charged with a drug/alcohol related crime. In response, the Division of Epidemiology, Services and Prevention Research is targeting their research on drug courts, state legislative initiatives, HIV/AIDS studies in criminal justice settings, re-entry, and the initiation of treatment during incarceration with follow up after release. In an effort to translate research into practice, a new manual was published entitled "Principles of Effective Treatment with Drug-Abusing Offenders." A Judicial Training project will build on the key role of judges by providing specific training and educational materials for them.

   Recent NIDA Activities

   Dr. Volkow highlighted several recently published PAs and RFAs in prescription drug abuse, MDMA research and the Clinical Trials Network. She announced that NIDA is participating with other NIH components and agencies in 8 new PAs and 4 new RFAs. These initiatives include services research, translational research, and research on health risk behaviors.

   Dr. Volkow highlighted several recent meetings and events. NIDA sponsored several activities at the College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD) annual meeting held in San Juan in June 2004. NIDA also participated in a number of sessions at the American Psychological Association annual meeting held in Honolulu, Hawaii in July 2004. A brochure of the NIDA APA activities has been produced and disseminated. A Blending Clinical Practice and Research meeting will be held September 27-28, 2004 in Detroit, Michigan. This meeting will provide clinicians and researchers an opportunity to examine cutting-edge scientific findings about drug use and addiction and their application to clinical practice. NIDA is sponsoring a mini-convention on Frontiers in Addiction Research to be held in conjunction with the Society for Neuroscience Annual meeting in San Diego, California, in October 2004. Dr. Volkow also called attention to the DEA Museum Foundation Exhibit in New York in which NIDA participated. This exhibit, "Target America: Opening Eyes to the Damage Drugs Cause," will run from September 14, 2004 through February 1, 2005.

4. Public Comments

   Dr. Volkow opened the floor to comments from members of the public. Ms. Joan Levy-Zlotnik from the Institute for the Advancement of Social Work Research complimented NIDA on its support of social work research.

   Mr. Rob Morrison of the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors complimented NIDA on its blending initiative and noted community support of the mission of NIDA.

5. Adjournment

   The 88th meeting of the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse was adjourned at 9:25 a.m.

Certification

I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are accurate and complete.

Note: Informational materials provided to the public at the open session of the meeting may be obtained from the Executive Secretary.