Five Win Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Innovators Award for Groundbreaking Work in Addiction

7/23/2003

From: Dennis Tartaglia of M Booth & Associates, 212-481-7000 or dennist@mbooth.com

PRINCETON, N.J., July 23 -- Five Americans who are pushing the frontiers of substance abuse treatment, prevention and awareness were named recipients of the 2003 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Innovators Combating Substance Abuse award, among the most prestigious awards in the field. This year's awardees include:

-- Michael C. Fiore, M.D., M.P.H., a physician and researcher who has led the way in increasing understanding of the addictive nature of smoking both within and without the medical community, and gotten "smoking status" listed as a vital sign on the nation's medical charts. Dr. Fiore is Professor of Medicine at the University of Wisconsin Medical School and founder and Director of the University of Wisconsin Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention. He will use his award to launch a multifaceted effort aimed at spurring policy changes and enacting a multibillion-dollar national plan to reduce tobacco use.

-- Raymond Materson, a needlepoint artist who salvaged thread from worn socks in prison to stitch his life back together -- and whose nationally exhibited work inspires contemplation in those with addictions and compassion from others. Materson is Director of Pregnancy Prevention and HIV Education at the Berkshire Farm Center and Services for Youth in Canaan, New York. He will use his Innovators Award to develop, implement and evaluate an "Artist in Residence Program" for adolescents with substance dependencies at Berkshire.

-- A. Thomas McLellan, Ph.D., a psychologist and researcher who has improved the quality of drug treatment and developed tools for assessing the effectiveness of addiction treatment and the severity of addiction, which are now used throughout the treatment field. Dr. McLellan is Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and founder and Director of the Treatment Research Institute in Philadelphia. He intends to use his grant to rate the efficacy of treatments using the format published in Consumer Reports.

-- William R. Miller, Ph.D., a psychologist and researcher who has developed techniques for substance abuse counseling that motivate clients and empathize with their condition -- and have been successfully adopted throughout the world. Dr. Miller is Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of New Mexico. He will use his grant to convene a conference on innovations in substance abuse treatment, to develop a comprehensive summary of evidence-based substance abuse treatment methods, and to support the placement of interventionists in family practice clinics.

-- Mark W. Parrino, M.P.A., an effective advocate for safe and efficacious pharmacological treatments for people addicted to heroin and other opiates, as well as for integrating these approaches with behavioral therapies. Parrino is President of the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence, located in New York City. He will use his award grant to develop methods to increase access to treatment, including medicines that have been proven effective in treating chronic opioid dependence, among prison inmates.

"These individuals epitomize true genius and leadership in tackling the problem of substance abuse, which remains the leading preventable killer of Americans," says J. Michael McGinnis, M.D., senior vice president and director of the Health Group of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. "Their work -- and their willingness to find creative ways to achieve meaningful results -- has stretched the boundaries of conventional care and has had a direct impact on the treatment, prevention and awareness of this chronic disease for hundreds, thousands, or even millions. The Innovators award will recognize these remarkable individuals and enable them to pursue creative, leading-edge projects they might not otherwise be able to undertake."

Innovators Combating Substance Abuse is a national program of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that recognizes and rewards those who have made substantial, innovative contributions of national significance in the field of substance abuse. Each award includes a grant of $300,000, which is used to conduct a project over a period of up to three years that advances the field. The program addresses problems related to alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs, through education advocacy, treatment and policy research and reform at the national, state and local levels. The Innovators program is run by a national program office at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

"These individuals have played a major role in helping to change the landscape and status quo in the area of substance abuse," says Jack E. Henningfield, Ph.D., director of the Innovators program. "They have translated research into practice, bridged practice and policy-making, published ground-breaking guidelines, reshaped our fundamental perspectives on substance abuse, given us an insider's look at addiction, and brought hope and vision for the future."

Substance abuse is the nation's number one health problem. There are more deaths, illnesses and disabilities from substance abuse than from any other preventable health condition. More than 500,000 deaths each year are linked, directly or indirectly, to alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Substance abuse also devastates family life, affects public safety, and takes a toll on the national economy. Though it impacts all segments of society, minority groups are affected disproportionately.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, based in Princeton, N.J., is the nation's largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to health and health care. It concentrates its grantmaking in four goal areas: to assure that all Americans have access to quality health care at reasonable cost; to improve the quality of care and support for people with chronic health conditions; to promote healthy communities and lifestyles; and to reduce the personal, social and economic harm caused by substance abuse - tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs.

For more information on Innovators Combating Substance Abuse, please visit: http://www.SAInnovators.org. For a press kit including a bio, profile, and photo of each Innovator, please visit: http://newsroom.mbooth.com/sainnovators/.