Hanley Center, Scripps Florida and University of Miami join in search for addiction fighting drug

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, May 20, 2009 – Details of a five-year research project that could lead to an addiction fighting drug were unveiled during a meeting of the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP).

Dr. Barbara Krantz, CEO and Medical Director of Research at Hanley Center, joined with Scripps Florida neurobiologist Dr. Paul Kenny and Dr. Karen Dodge an adjunct professor with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and an epidemiologist with the Palm Beach County branch of the Florida Health Department to present details of their research.

“We’re actually seeking to define recovery, evaluate treatment and improve outcomes for our patients,” Dr. Krantz told The Palm Beach Post for a story about the research. “It really is a priority public health issue and that’s where we’re coming from.”

The Post reported that the joint research is working toward developing a blood test, “aimed at assessing both severity of drug or alcohol addiction, risk of relapse and success of treatment. . .they hope to develop new drugs to treat cravings, and broaden understanding of the brain in general.”

Dr. Kenny told the newspaper, “Addiction is ultimately an alteration in learning, memory and motivation systems in the brain, so if we can understand addiction, we can better understand how the brain works.”

For more on this ongoing story about this important research collaboration contact: Brian E. Crowley, ImMEDIAcy Public Relations, Inc., office: 561.776.7659; cell: 561.568.5709.