Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #107222

Kristin B. Schubert, MPH, Addiction Prevention and Treatment Team, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Route 1 North and College Road East, Princeton, NJ 08543, 6096277563, kschube@rwjf.org

In efforts to help state purchasers support the increased use of evidence-based practices in substance use dependence treatment, they should have clear understanding of what they need to do to make that happen. This paper summarizes discussions at a December 2004 convening, supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, entitled Small Group Consultation on State Purchasing Levers Promoting Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs) in Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment Services, during which representatives from state agencies stressed several factors that were important at the state level in supporting the increased use of evidence-based practices in treatment. Examples included the importance of having long-term leadership, the benefit of analyzing the effect incentives might have on a system, and the need to conduct outreach to populations and providers to ensure that policies promoting EBPs are sensitive to the needs of underrepresented populations. Issues related to systems organization and integration were also discussed. In addition, guidelines and “actionable” recommendations were created for state purchasers to follow in helping them increase the use of evidence-based practices in their states. These included recommendations related to the standardization of funding, need to conduct additional research, and the importance of equal representation from different groups at the state level. Conclusions drawn from this meeting will likely prove useful in shaping policies and practices involved in using state levers to promote the use of EBPs.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will be able to understand factors that are important at the state level in supporting the use of evidence-based practices in treatment. They will also be able to identify factors at the organizational and policy levels that impact adoption of evidence-based practices. Finally, audience members will gain insight into factors that should be in place to support the increased adoption of evidence-based practices in substance use dependence treatment.

Keywords: Evidence Based Practice, Substance Abuse Treatment

Related Web page: www.rwjf.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.