UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs
David Geffen School of Medicine
University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)
Los Angeles, California, United States
Recognizing the efficiencies gained from working in cooperation with others, Dr. Richard A. Rawson and his collaborators have been working to narrow the divide between research and practice around the globe. Dr. Rawson has led addiction research and training projects for the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and the U.S. State Department, exporting science-based knowledge to many parts of the world. During the past decade, he has worked with the U.S. State Department on large substance abuse research and treatment projects, disseminating U.S. technology and addiction science to Egypt, Israel, Mexico, the Palestinian Territories, South Africa, and Thailand. He and his colleagues in the Middle East—Drs. Richard Isralowitz (Israel), Mohammed Al-Afifi (Palestinian Territories), and Tarak Gawad (Egypt)—have engaged international experts to develop a process to promote communications, cooperation, and coordination of efforts directed toward the prevention and treatment of drug abuse in the region. Dr. Rawson also directs the capacity-building and training component of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime International Network of Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Resource Centres (TreatNet), a global initiative that is being implemented in 26 countries across 5 regions.