By Val Slaymaker, PhD

Dr. Dan Anderson, pioneer and one of the founders of the Hazelden model, was the penultimate innovator. His determination to create new and improved treatments for alcoholism and drug dependence left a lasting impression on Hazelden staff, not to mention the millions of people throughout the world who have found and sustained recovery. Indeed, his innovative spirit is alive and well at Hazelden today.

Hazelden has a long tradition of research and science. Staff are always working to incorporate the latest that addiction science has to offer to our clinical care. Let me provide you with a current example.

A recent research study at Hazelden assessed daily craving and mood levels among a sample of patients. A very intriguing finding emerged. Patients fell into three groups: those who came to treatment with moderately high craving for alcohol and left treatment with low to no craving, those who came in low and left low in craving, and 20 percent who came in with moderately high craving and left with moderately high craving. What is most interesting is that this latter group fell off to relapse more quickly by the 6-month mark after treatment.

Because, in part, of research like this, Hazelden incorporates pharmacological agents that target craving (also known as anti-craving agents) into the arsenal of evidence-based practices from which our expert clinicians individualize care.

Hazelden's spirit of innovation also leads us to conduct research on youth, a particularly vulnerable population when it comes to alcohol and other drug use. Young adults have the highest rates of illicit drug use and heavy alcohol use among any age group, and consequently they have the highest rate of substance use disorders compared to adolescents and adults (SAMHSA, 2005, 2006).

Young adults are a particularly challenging group to treat for substance-related problems. Compared to older adults, this younger age group tends to experience fewer direct or long-lasting consequences related to alcohol or drug use. As such, this group may be less likely to recognize substance use problems, and if recognized, may have lower motivation for change (Stewart & Brown, 1995).

In a previous issue of the Voice, we announced the launch of a large-scale project designed to help us understand the unique needs of young people in treatment. Our ultimate goal is to identify treatment methods to improve the likelihood of Twelve Step group participation in order to improve long-term outcomes for youth. Thanks to a generous and anonymous donor, this project has gone well with over 300 participants enrolled. We recently finished one-month follow-ups on the entire sample, and 6- and 12-month follow-ups are underway.

In recent years, neuroscientists have discovered that the human brain continues to develop through early adulthood. Alcohol and other drug use during this critical period may interrupt and negatively impact important brain development. In light of these findings, we are partnering with the University of Minnesota's Center for Magnetic Resonance Research to conduct a study of brain functioning among young adults with drug dependence. Thanks again to generous donors, we plan to launch the project this year.

The staff of the Butler Center for Research work on projects like these every day. We are committed to conducting research of sound scientific integrity to inform the field, demonstrate the miracle of recovery, and guide the care that is provided. Our work helps to fulfill Hazelden's promise to provide patients, families and others with the best opportunity to find and sustain recovery.

Val Slaymaker, PhD, is executive director of the Butler Center for Research, the research arm of Hazelden that is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge and understanding of addiction recovery. She can be reached at vslaymaker@hazelden.org.

Published Summer 2008, The Voice