On October 28, 2022, the Humphrey Fellows attended a networking session on substance use and addiction at the Global Leadership Forum. They were welcomed by Dr. Wendy Kliewer of Virginia Commonwealth University and by NIDA International Program Co-Coordinators Dr. Lindsey Friend and Dr. Tom Clarke. During the half-day program, the fellows learned about several organizations and agencies addressing substance use both in the United States and internationally. They heard presentations by Mr. Eric Siervo of the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), Mr. Richard Baum of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), Ms. Christine Cicchetti of the National Mental Health and Substance Use Policy Laboratory at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and Dr. Maristela Monteiro of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
On November 3–4, the Humphrey Fellows had the opportunity to visit with NIDA representatives at the Institute’s headquarters in Rockville, MD. After a welcome by NIDA Deputy Director Dr. Wilson Compton and NIDA International Program Co-Coordinators Dr. Tom Clarke, Deputy Director of the Office of Science Policy and Communications (OSPC), and Dr. Lindsey Friend, Research Training and Career Development Program Officer of the Office of Research Training, Diversity, and Health Disparities, the fellows heard presentations by representatives of various NIDA divisions, offices, programs, and initiatives. Presenters included Dr. Minnjuan Flournoy Floyd of the Division of Epidemiology, Services, and Prevention Research (DESPR); Dr. Ivan Montoya of the Division of Therapeutics and Medical Consequences (DTMC); Dr. David Epstein of the NIDA Intramural Research Program; Dr. Elizabeth Barfield of OSPC; and Dr. Sunila Nair of NIDA’s Women & Sex/Gender Differences Research Group. Additional presentations were given by Dr. Flora Katz of the NIH Fogarty International Center as well as by SAMHSA representatives Dr. Kirk James of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment and Ms. Susan Miller of the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention . The fellows also learned from OSPC’s Mr. Brian Marquis about National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week®, a health observance to inspire dialogue among youth, educators, health care providers, community partners, and scientists about the science of drug use and addiction.