Division of Addiction Science, Prevention and Treatment

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

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About Us

The Division of Addiction Science, Prevention, and Treatment is comprised of three strong & inter-related components: Clinical/Treatment, Research, and Education/Training. The Division provides a distinctive environment for conducting addiction research and for training students, postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty. The strong relationship between the Division's research and clinical programs facilitates & accelerates the pace at which research is translated into clinical practice. Current Division addiction research programs and expertise include genetics, epidemiology, biomarkers of addiction and treatment response, medication development, human laboratory studies, clinical trials, implementation research, deep brain stimulation, health and neurocognitive effects of cannabis use across the lifespan.

The Division is home to the Rocky Mountain Cannabis Research Center (RM-CRC) offering mentored research training and pilot research funding opportunities for medical students, graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and junior faculty interested in cannabis research. The RM-CRC places special emphasis on recruitment and outreach to trainees and junior faculty from groups underrepresented in medicine.

Vision

Accelerate the pace at which advances in addiction research are translated into clinical practice
Train the next generation of addiction researchers and clinicians

Mission

To increase awareness of addiction as a brain disease and reduce mortality and morbidity of addiction through research, education, prevention and treatment across the lifespan.

The Division of Addiction Science, Prevention, and Treatment is the largest research-focused division in the Department of Psychiatry, with 9 research faculty and 15 federally-funded grant awards, including the NIDA-funded Rocky Mountain Cannabis Research Center (RM-CRC).

The Division also provides an unparalleled addiction research training and mentorship environment for medical students, residents, post-doctoral fellows, and junior faculty. The RM-CRC places special emphasis on providing mentored research and pilot research funding opportunities for trainees and faculty from groups underrepresented in medicine.

In addition to research expertise on the effects of cannabis on neurocognition and health across the lifespan, the Division's research programs also include basic science (i.e., genetics, epigenetics), human laboratory studies, medication and behavioral treatment development, deep brain stimulation, and clinical trials research, including affiliation with the NIAAA Alcohol Pharmacotherapy Evaluation Program.

2023 NIH Direct Costs for Grants with Division Faculty as PI:$7.6M

CONA Lab, PI: Joseph Sakai, MD– Colorado Neuromodulation of Addiction Lab. CONA focuses on testing novel treatments such as deep brain stimulation (DBS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), among other approaches, to treat addictive disorders.

CHAOS Lab, PI: Kent Hutchison, PhD – Cannabis, Health, and Addiction Over the Lifespan Lab. CHAOS focuses on understanding how cannabinoids like CBD and THC influence the endocannabinoid system which in turn influences the immune system and the brain. This research has implications for chronic pain, anxiety, sleep, and opioid and alcohol use.

TrAIL Lab, PI: Joseph Schacht, PhD– Translational Addiction Imaging Lab. TrAIL focuses on exploring new treatments for alcohol and addictive disorders. Our research uses behavioral genetics, functional neuroimaging, and experimental pharmacology to test novel medications in a research laboratory setting.

Rocky Mountain Cannabis Research Center (RM-CRC), RM-CRC, Director: Kent Hutchison, PhD – RM-CRC focuses on researching the risks and benefits of cannabis and cannabinoids to provide the information that consumers, patients, doctors, and public health officials need to make informed decisions.

The Division of Addiction Science, Prevention, and Treatment provides a variety of educational experiences to learners, including clinical, laboratory, and classroom-based experiences. Please click here to learn more about CU School of Medicine, or please click here to learn more about the Graduate Medical Education programs offered at CU Anschutz Medical Campus.

Addiction Research and Treatment Services (ARTS) offers outpatient and residential substance use treatment for adults, adolescents, and families. ARTS aims to improve the quality of life and productivity of individuals and families affected by substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders through the application of scientifically supported prevention, education, and treatment services. This includes gender-specific, trauma-informed, and patient-centered approaches to care for those who need help.

Treatments Available:

Adult