The Need to Restructure the Substance Misuse Behavioral Science Research Enterprise

Abstract

Two major dynamics characterize the field of substance misuse behavioral science research in recent decades. First, assessments of the outcomes of prevention and treatment services have shown increasing conceptual and methodological sophistication, but, in general, have not kept pace with new developments in biostatistics and multivariate analyses. Second, funding for richer, more informed evaluation efforts to assess the efficacy, cost benefits, and longer term outcomes of these services has declined significantly. These two processes are creating a growing crisis in the field. Researchers, program administrators, and legislative bodies at the state and federal levels have each contributed to this crisis. A significant restructuring of what we do and when (appropriate timing), their underpinnings (theoretical, empirical, stakeholder agendas and goals, etc.) and how we do it, and the ongoing availability and accessibility of relevant human and non-human resources, amongst other considerations, is needed. Although this Op-Ed piece prevents full discussion of these issues, as someone who has been involved in this field for many years, I feel several key issues need to be addressed: