# Translating Research into Practice on Alcohol and Polysubstance Use Disorders by Educating the Interprofessional Primary Care Team

> **NIH NIH R25** · MOSES-WEITZMAN HEALTH SYSTEM INC · 2024 · $240,714

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) are common in the United States (SAMHSA, 2022), yet primary care providers
often overlook these conditions in patients seen for routine visits; even when identified, referral to treatment
and appropriate interventions do not always follow (Isaacson and Schorling, 1999). Despite the existence of
effective and evidence-based interventions for addressing AUD, there is an apparent research-practice gap of
these within the primary care setting (Rehm, et al., 2016), with many PCPs reporting low levels of
preparedness to deal with SUDs, including AUD and polysubstance use disorders, although these disorders
have the potential to cause significant and lifelong health impacts (Shapiro and McCance, 2013). Effective
continuing education programs are needed to support providers in implementing the evidence base on AUD
into practice. To address these gaps, Moses/Weitzman Health System and its Weitzman Institute propose the
Translating Research into Practice on Alcohol and Polysubstance Use Disorders by Educating the
Interprofessional Primary Care Team project. The overall goals of this project are to 1) improve the capacity of
primary care medical providers and behavioral health providers in federally qualified health centers and other
safety net primary care settings across the United States to apply best practices derived from the current
science in the prevention, screening, and treatment of AUD and polysubstance use disorder into practice and
2) enhance this audience's interest and engagement in foundational and emerging scientific literature related
to AUD and polysubstance use disorders. The proposed project will develop, implement, and evaluate three
complementary, virtual continuing education strategies: 1) two, 16-session cohorts of Project ECHO Alcohol
Use Disorder, 2) 12, one-hour Science to Practice sessions adapting a virtual journal club module, and 3) nine
on-demand eLearning modules offering self-paced education in 15-30 minute increments. In addition, the
project will convene an Alcohol Use Disorder in Primary Care Advisory Council of 10 representatives including
multidisciplinary leaders and clinicians from the target audience, individuals with lived experience in recovery
from AUD, and experts in AUD research to discuss current best practices, challenges, and solutions to address
AUD and polysubstance use disorder in primary care and inform the project. These efforts are anticipated to
educate 670 providers, improve their knowledge, skills, attitudes, and self-efficacy, and increase their interest
and engagement in the scientific literature. The simultaneous evaluation activities are anticipated to develop
and advance best practices in utilizing the selected virtual education modalities to both achieve and sustain
outcomes and translate the science on AUD and polysubstance use disorders into primary care practice.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11015195
- **Project number:** 1R25AA031951-01
- **Recipient organization:** MOSES-WEITZMAN HEALTH SYSTEM INC
- **Principal Investigator:** Karen Ashley
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $240,714
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-09-20 → 2028-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11015195

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11015195, Translating Research into Practice on Alcohol and Polysubstance Use Disorders by Educating the Interprofessional Primary Care Team (1R25AA031951-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11015195. Licensed CC0.

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