From research to practice

Abstract

Drug abuse research has received strong and continuing support in the hope that the knowledge acquired from that research will shape the course of drug abuse treatment and prevention. However, whereas mechanisms exist to assure the sharing of knowledge within the research community, efforts to bridge the gap between research and practice have been partial and inadequate. Getting treatment and prevention programs to adopt new behaviors requires a use of strategies capable of inducing organizational change. Studies have demonstrated the importance of interpersonal contact as a part of those strategies, and the futility of relying on the professional literature. Nonetheless, reliance on the print media continues to be the strategy of choice to achieve technology transfer. To permit research findings to influence the course of drug abuse programming and policy will require new governmental initiatives in terms both of an emphasis on interpersonal contacts to achieve organizational change, and the promotion of technology transfer as a significant area for study.

Citation

Brown, B.S. (1999), "From research to practice", Levy, J.A., Stephens, R.C. and McBride, D.C. (Ed.) Emergent Issues in the Field of Drug Abuse (Advances in Medical Sociology, Vol. 7), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 345-365. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1057-6290(00)80017-0