Creating A Cooperative Creating A Cooperative Drug Abuse Research Drug Abuse Research Network in the Middle Network in the Middle

EastEastRichard A. RawsonRichard A. Rawson

Albert HassonAlbert HassonUCLA Integrated Substance Abuse ProgramsUCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs

Los AngelesLos Angeles, , CaliforniaCaliforniarrawson@mednet.ucla.edurrawson@mednet.ucla.edu

www.uclaisap.orgwww.uclaisap.org

Special Special Acknowledgements to:Acknowledgements to:

• Mohamed Afifi, PalestineMohamed Afifi, Palestine• Richard Isralowitz, IsraelRichard Isralowitz, Israel• Nasser Loza, EgyptNasser Loza, Egypt• Ahmed El Dosoky, EgyptAhmed El Dosoky, Egypt• Tarek Gawad, EgyptTarek Gawad, Egypt• Tarek Okasha, EgyptTarek Okasha, Egypt• Juana Tomas-Rosello UNODCJuana Tomas-Rosello UNODC• Vladimir Pozynak, WHOVladimir Pozynak, WHO• Jack Stein, NIDAJack Stein, NIDA• Tom Babor, U of Conn Tom Babor, U of Conn • Solomon Rataemane, South AfricaSolomon Rataemane, South Africa• Walter Ling, UCLAWalter Ling, UCLA

Building Regional Research Building Regional Research PartnershipsPartnerships

• Organizing question: In areas of the Organizing question: In areas of the world where there is limited drug world where there is limited drug abuse research activity, is it possible to abuse research activity, is it possible to create a synergy, increased research create a synergy, increased research volume and increased efficiency by volume and increased efficiency by linking with multiple research partners linking with multiple research partners in a region and building a multi-in a region and building a multi-element research network?element research network?

• Moving from individual projects to a Moving from individual projects to a research networkresearch network

The foot in the doorThe foot in the door

• 1997 invitation from Richard Isralowitz 1997 invitation from Richard Isralowitz (Israel) and Mohamed Afifi (Palestine) (Israel) and Mohamed Afifi (Palestine) to participate in an exploratory to participate in an exploratory meeting about the nature of the drug meeting about the nature of the drug abuse problem in Israel and Palestine. abuse problem in Israel and Palestine. (Funding in part provided by USAID (Funding in part provided by USAID via the US Embassy) via the US Embassy)

• Training sessions provided to 4 Training sessions provided to 4 audiencesaudiences

Collecting information, Collecting information, determining needs, determining needs, identifying fundersidentifying funders

• Over the next 3 years, we conducted Over the next 3 years, we conducted a series of clinical trainings and data a series of clinical trainings and data presentations in Israel and Palestinepresentations in Israel and Palestine

• Areas of information need identifiedAreas of information need identified• Research topics, questions, priorities Research topics, questions, priorities

determineddetermined• Search for funders initiatedSearch for funders initiated

Research FundersResearch Funders• US Department of StateUS Department of State• NIDA (Supplements, CPDD travel, Fogarty, NIDA (Supplements, CPDD travel, Fogarty,

Humphrey, Distinguished International Humphrey, Distinguished International Scientist, R21 and R01…hopefully)Scientist, R21 and R01…hopefully)

• EU and European governments working in EU and European governments working in the Middle Eastthe Middle East

• UNODCUNODC• WHOWHO• Regional GovernmentsRegional Governments• Foundations (Ford, Rockefeller, Institute for Foundations (Ford, Rockefeller, Institute for

Peace)Peace)• Pharmaceutical Companies **Pharmaceutical Companies **

Middle East Regional Middle East Regional Cooperative (MERC) ProgramCooperative (MERC) Program

• Program to build scientific cooperative Program to build scientific cooperative work in Middle East.work in Middle East.

• A Substance Abuse Monitoring System for Israeli A Substance Abuse Monitoring System for Israeli and Palestinian Communitiesand Palestinian Communities– 2001-current: Surveys of youth in Palestinian and 2001-current: Surveys of youth in Palestinian and

Israeli communities to determine nature and extent of Israeli communities to determine nature and extent of the drug use problemthe drug use problem

• A Substance Abuse Monitoring System for A Substance Abuse Monitoring System for Egyptian and Israeli CommunitiesEgyptian and Israeli Communities– 2003-current2003-current: : Implementation of the ASI in multiple Implementation of the ASI in multiple

sites in Egypt and Israelsites in Egypt and Israel

MERC ResultsMERC Results

• First data ever on the nature and extent of First data ever on the nature and extent of drug/alcohol use among youth in Palestinedrug/alcohol use among youth in Palestine

• First extensive data on drug use among high risk First extensive data on drug use among high risk youth in Israelyouth in Israel

• First attempt to collect systematic data on individuals First attempt to collect systematic data on individuals admitted to drug treatment in Egyptadmitted to drug treatment in Egypt

• First extensive data collection effort on the nature First extensive data collection effort on the nature and extent of drug use among immigrants into Israel and extent of drug use among immigrants into Israel from the former Soviet Unionfrom the former Soviet Union

• Valuable technology transfer experience to examine Valuable technology transfer experience to examine the application of the ASI in Egypt and Israelthe application of the ASI in Egypt and Israel

• See Posters on Sunday See Posters on Sunday

MERC ActivitesMERC Activites

• Training around data collectionTraining around data collection• Conference Presentations (CPDD, ISAM, CEWG, WPA, Conference Presentations (CPDD, ISAM, CEWG, WPA,

others)others)• PublicationsPublications• Many presentations in community, universities, Many presentations in community, universities,

professional organizationsprofessional organizations• Promote and support related training and development Promote and support related training and development

(eg Palestinian training at Behman Hospital) (eg Palestinian training at Behman Hospital) • Promote and participate in regional meetings (eg Cairo Promote and participate in regional meetings (eg Cairo

meetings Oct 2004, thanks to NIDA, WHO, UNODC, meetings Oct 2004, thanks to NIDA, WHO, UNODC, Cairo University, Ain Shams University, Behman Cairo University, Ain Shams University, Behman Hospital, Deni Carise, Tom McLellan, Frank Vocci, Hospital, Deni Carise, Tom McLellan, Frank Vocci, Ahmed Elkashef, UCLA colleagues)Ahmed Elkashef, UCLA colleagues)

Next StepsNext Steps

• Institute of Peace Meeting (with added Institute of Peace Meeting (with added support from NIDA, UNODC and WHO)support from NIDA, UNODC and WHO)– Funding provided for a meeting of leading international Funding provided for a meeting of leading international

researchers/policy makers on the topics of integrating researchers/policy makers on the topics of integrating substance abuse services with primary care, mental health substance abuse services with primary care, mental health and social service agencies, Istanbul, Turkey Sept 4-8, and social service agencies, Istanbul, Turkey Sept 4-8, 2005. 22 Countries representing Middle East, Eastern 2005. 22 Countries representing Middle East, Eastern Europe and Africa. Hoped for outcome will be a WHO Europe and Africa. Hoped for outcome will be a WHO initiative to promote service development and integration in initiative to promote service development and integration in developing countries. We hope to be involved in a data developing countries. We hope to be involved in a data collection effort to evaluate the impact of this processcollection effort to evaluate the impact of this process

• NIDA R21 and R01sNIDA R21 and R01s• EU and Foundation ApplicationsEU and Foundation Applications

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

• Find people you like working withFind people you like working with• Create an agenda to meet research needs of the Create an agenda to meet research needs of the

region (eg. Research agenda in Palestine is region (eg. Research agenda in Palestine is different than Israel, is different than Egypt, different than Israel, is different than Egypt, but common threads can be identified)but common threads can be identified)

• Willingness to provide training to a variety of Willingness to provide training to a variety of audiences to build local support for audiences to build local support for development of research and establish partnersdevelopment of research and establish partners

• Maintain awareness of political realities and Maintain awareness of political realities and sensitivitiessensitivities

• More participants is not necessarily a good More participants is not necessarily a good thingthing