Inhibitory Control and Drug Abuse Prevention

Michael Bardo, Ph.D. is professor of psychology and director of the NIDA-funded Center for Drug Abuse Research Translation (CDART) at the University of Kentucky. He currently teaches at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and maintains a research laboratory investigating the biological bases of drug abuse. His laboratory is primarily interested in understanding the basic neuropharmacological mechanisms that underlie drug abuse vulnerability using laboratory animals. He is a fellow of the Association for Psychological Science and a member of the Society for Neuroscience, American Psychological Association Division 28, Midwestern Psychological Association, Society for Prevention Research, New York Academy of Sciences, and is active on the editorial board of numerous pharmacology, neuroscience, and psychology journals. Diana Fishbein, Ph.D. is Senior Fellow in behavioral neuroscience and directs the Transdisciplinary Behavioral Science Program at RTI. She began her career as professor of criminology at the University of Baltimore and as a scientific investigator at the University of Maryland Medical School and subsequently the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the Department of Justice, and the University of Maryland HIDTA Program. Dr. Fishbein consults with federal, state, and local agencies for purposes of expert witnessing in criminal court, training, technical assistance, scientific peer reviews, and development of research protocols. She publishes regularly in her field and is primary author of two textbooks, The Dynamics of Drug Abuse and Biobehavioral Perspectives in Criminology, and editor of two volumes of The Science, Treatment, and Prevention of Antisocial Behavior. Richard Milich, Ph.D. is a professor of psychology and administrative director of the Center for Drug Abuse Research Translation (CDART) at the University of Kentucky. His primary research interests are childhood behavior problems (especially attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and conduct disorder) and predictors of long-term drug use. He is administrative director of the university’s NHIDA funded Drug Prevention Center. His primary clinical interests are in the area of disordered child behavior. He received the 2007 Kentucky Psychological Association Outstanding Mentor Award, the 2004 William Sturgill Award from the University of Kentucky, and the Division 53 of APA award for outstanding graduate student mentoring. He is a Fellow of APA Divisions 12 and 53. He is active on the editorial boards of several journals, including Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Journal of Consulting and clinical Psychology, Journal of Attention Disorders, and Perspectives on Psychological Science.

I. Introduction.- Benefits of a translating research on inhibitory control for the prevention drug abuse.- II. Neurobehavioral Approaches for Understanding Inhibitory Control.- Animal models of inhibitory control.- Neurochemical influences on impulsivity and cognitive control in laboratory animals.- Genetic determinants of behavior and impulse control in alcoholic families.- Impaired inhibitory control as a mechanism in drug addiction.- Neuroimaging, adolescence, and risky behavior.- III. Translating Research on Inhibitory Control to At-Risk Populations.- Inhibitory control deficits in childhood and risk for substance use.- Translating basic science research findings into applications for prevention.- Impulsivity and adolescent substance use.- Positive and negative reinforcement processes underlying adolescent risk taking.- Developmental changes in neurocircuitry underlying impulse control and addiction vulnerability in adolescence.- Neurobehavioral disinhibition, brain activation, and risk for substance abuse.- IV. Translating Research on Inhibitory Control to Prevention Interventions.- Effects of adversity on development of inhibitory control and the role of parental involvement on prevention of adverse .- Preventing early conduct problems through a targeted intervention to strengthen inhibitory control and emotional regulation.- Developmental psychopathology: Focusing on core inhibitory competencies to prevent substance abuse.- Designing public service announcements that target impulsive or sensation-seeking adolescents to prevent drug abuse.- Preventive interventions designed to target underlying emotional regulatory mechanisms in high risk behaviors.- V. Conclusion.- Policy issues and advocacy translating research on inhibitory control to drug abuse prevention.- Final thoughts on inhibition and drug abuse: Where do we go from here?