• Message from the Director - Years of Animal Research Proves MDMA ("Ecstasy") Can Damage Neurons; MDMA's Effects on the Human Brain Are Being Studied
• Message from the Director - Prescription Drug Abuse
• Message from the Director - Introduction
• Director's Report
• Director's Column from NIDA NOTES
• Testimony to Congress
• Published Articles and Presentations

Nora D. Volkow, M.D., became Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) in May, 2003. A leader in drug addiction research, she is the first woman to serve as NIDA's director since the founding of the Institute.

Dr. Volkow came to NIDA from Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), where she held concurrent positions including associate director for life sciences, director of nuclear medicine, and director of the NIDA-Department of Energy Regional Neuroimaging Center. In addition, Dr. Volkow was a professor in the department of psychiatry and associate dean of the medical school at the State University of New York (SUNY)-Stony Brook.

Dr. Volkow brings to NIDA a long record of accomplishment in drug addiction research. She is a recognized expert on the brain's dopamine system with her research focusing on the brains of addicted, obese, and aging individuals. Her studies have documented changes in the dopamine system affecting the actions of frontal brain regions involved with motivation, drive, and pleasure and the decline of brain dopamine function with age.

At Brookhaven, Dr. Volkow was the first to use imaging to investigate neurochemical changes that occur during drug addiction. Her primary focus was on mechanisms underlying the reinforcing, addictive, and toxic properties of drugs of abuse in the human brain. She investigated the neurochemical mechanisms that influence the way individuals respond to drugs of abuse and the potential link to vulnerability to drug abuse, alcoholism, or other impulse behaviors.

Dr. Volkow has used imaging to study the rewarding and therapeutic effects of stimulant drugs. By conducting a systematic comparison of the pharmacological effects of cocaine and methylphenidate (a drug to treat children with attention deficit disorder), her studies have highlighted the importance of pharmacokinetics in enabling the reinforcing effects of stimulant drugs. These studies have shown that stimulant drugs, when used therapeutically, amplify dopamine signals in the brain and also result in improved attention and performance.

Her work includes more than 275 peer-reviewed publications, three edited books, and more than 50 book chapters and non-peer reviewed manuscripts. The recipient of multiple awards, she was elected to membership in the Institute of Medicine in the National Academy of Sciences and was named "Innovator of the Year" in 2000 by U.S. News and World Report.

Dr. Volkow received her B.A. from Modern American School, Mexico City, Mexico, her M.D. from the National University of Mexico, Mexico City, and her postdoctoral training in psychiatry at New York University. In addition to BNL and SUNY-Stony Brook, Dr. Volkow has worked at the University of Texas Medical School and Sainte Anne Psychiatric Hospital in Paris, France.

Director's Reports to the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse

Dr. Volkow made her first presentation to the Advisory council in May, 2003

• 2004: February, May
• 2003: February, May, September
• 2002: February, May September
• 2001: February, May September
• 2000: February, May September
• 1999: February, May September
• 1998: February, May September
• 1997: February, May September
• 1996: February, May September
• 1995: February, May September

Director's Columns from NIDA NOTES

• Exploring the Why's of Adolescent Drug Abuse from Volume 19, Number 3. (2004)
• NIDA's Brain, Behavior, Health Initiative: Multidisciplinary Exploration of the Brain from Volume 19, Number 2. (2004)
• NIDA at 30: Committed to Scientific Solutions for Drug Addiction Problems from Volume 19, Number 1. (2004)
• Beyond the Brain: The Medical Consequences of Abuse and Addiction from Volume 18, Number 6. (2004)
• The Dual Challenge of Substance Abuse and Mental Disorders from Volume 18, Number 5. (2003)
• The Addicted Brain: Why Such Poor Decisions? from Volume 18, Number 4. (2003)
• Bringing Research and Practice Together To Improve Drug Abuse Prevention from Volume 18, Number 3. (2003)
• Brain Imaging: Bringing Drug Abuse Into Focus from Volume 18, Number 2. (2003)
• A Double Dose of Research for Patients Addicted to Both Drugs and Alcohol from Volume 18, Number 1. (2003)
• NIDA's Continued Commitment To Nicotine Research from Volume 17, Number 6. (2003)
• Opening the Door to Mainstream Medical Treatment Of Drug Addiction from Volume 17, Number 5. (2003)
• Rising to the Challenges of Inhalant Abuse from Volume 17, Number 4. (2002)
• New Insights Into Relapse from Volume 17, Number 3. (2002)
• In Drug Abuse, Gender Matters from Volume 17, Number 2. (2002)
• NIDA Research Advances Global Efforts To Prevent and Treat AIDS from Volume 17, Number 1. (2002)
• New Vistas in Drug Abuse Prevention from Volume 16, Number 6. (2002)
• Using Science To Counter the Spread of Ecstasy Abuse from Volume 16, Number 5. (2001)
• Countering Abuse and Addiction With Information Audiences Can Use from Volume 16, Number 4. (2001)
• Coping With Stress in the Wake of September 11 from Volume 16, Number 4 (2001)
• Understanding the Risks of Prescription Drug Abuse from Volume 16, Number 3. (2001)
• When the Question Is Drug Abuse and Addiction, the Answer Is 'All of the Above' from Volume 16, Number 2. (2001)
• Meeting the Challenge of Reducing Health Disparities from Volume 16, Number 1. (2001)
• Blending Drug Abuse Research and Practice To Improve Treatment from Volume 15, Number 6. (2001)
• NIDA's Nicotine Research Provides Scientific Approaches to Combat a Deadly Addiction from Volume 15, Number 5. (2000)
• Treating the Brain in Drug Abuse from Volume 15, Number 4. (2000)
• NIDA's Epidemiological Compasses from Volume 15, Number 3. (2000)
• NIDA's Strategic Plan for 2000-2005 from Volume 15, Number 2. (2000)
• Addressing the Medical Consequences of Drug Abuse from Volume 15, Number 1. (2000)
• A Club Drug Alert from Volume 14, Number 6. (2000)
• The State of the Art in Drug Addiction Treatment from Volume 14, Number 5. (1999)
• Drug Abuse and Mental Disorders: Comorbidity Is Reality from Volume 14, Number 4. (1999)
• Research Shows Effects of Prenatal Cocaine Exposure Are Subtle But Significant from Volume 14, Number 3. (1999)
• Drug Abuse Research Helps Curtail the Spread Of Deadly Infectious Diseases from Volume 14, Number 2. (1999)
• The Next Generation Of Drug Abuse Research from Volume 14, Number 1. (1999)
• Institute Will Expand Research Into the Interaction of Genetics and Environment in Vulnerability to Drug Abuse and Addiction from Volume 13, Number 6. (1999)
• NIDA Research Provides Data to Document and Improve the Effectiveness of Drug Abuse Health Services from Volume 13, Number 5. (1999)
• Gender Matters in Drug Abuse Research from Volume 13, Number 4. (1998)
• Addiction Research Can Provide Scientific Solutions to the Problem of Cigarette Smoking from Volume 13, Number 3. (1998)
• NIDA Probes the Elusive Link Between Child Abuse and Later Drug Abuse from Volume 13, Number 2. (1998)
• NIDA Expands Research to Meet Challenge of Methamphetamine Abuse from Volume 13, Number 1. (1998)
• Applying Scientific Research Can Counter Rise in Heroin Use from November/December, 1997
• National Study Offers Strong Evidence of the Effectiveness of Drug Abuse Treatment from September/October, 1997
• NIDA Initiative Will Stimulate Improvements in Drug Abuse Treatment from July/August, 1997
• Research Meets the Challenge of Preventing Drug Use Among Young People from May/June, 1997
• NIDA Responds to the Changing Dynamics of the AIDS Epidemic from March/April, 1997
• Taking Drug Abuse Research to the Community from January/February, 1997
• NIDA's Brain Imaging Studies Serve as Powerful Tools to Improve Drug Abuse Treatment from November/December, 1996
• Professional Exchanges Strengthen Drug Abuse Research, Prevention, and Treatment from September/October, 1996
• NIDA Seeks New Keys to Preventing Drug Abuse Among Adolescents from May/June, 1996
• Bridging the "Great Disconnect" from March/April, 1996
• NIDA Develops Guidelines for Research Center Grant Program from January/February, 1996
• Broadening the Role of NIDA's Neuroscience Research from November/December, 1995
• Progress and Potential Mark NIDA's Search for a Cocaine Treatment Medication from September/October, 1995
• Marijuana Initiative Features Scientifically Accurate, Credible Messages from July/August, 1995
• AIDS Brings Greater Research Obligation, More Potential for Results from May/June, 1995
• Broadening NIDA's Basic Research on Behavior from March/April, 1995
• Filling the Gender Gap in Drug Abuse Research from January/February, 1995
• Spreading the Word about NIDA Research from October/November, 1994

Published Articles and Presentations

• Road to Recovery Webcast: Addiction by Prescription - (SAMHSA Web Site)
• ¡Soy Unica! - Spotlight on Dr. Nora Volkow, Director, National Institute on National Institute on Drug Abuse

Past Director's Presentations

• American Methadone Treatment Association Presentation by Alan I. Leshner, Ph.D. - October 9, 2001In PowerPoint format (4.1 MB download)
• Addiction Is a Brain Disease Published by the National Academy of Sciences, Issues in Science and Technology online
• Talking With Alan I. Leshner, PhD, National Institute on Drug Abuse Director, Published in the Journal of American Medical Association
• "Oops: How Casual Drug Use Leads to Addiction" - By Alan I. Leshner, Ph.D., Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse
• "Exploding Myths about Drug Abuse" - By Alan I. Leshner, Ph.D., Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse
• Parents: Nicotine Is A Real Threat To Your Kids - Dr. Alan I. Leshner, Director of NIDA.
• Nicotine Plenary: From Science to the Marketplace - Dr. Alan I. Leshner at the 11th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health - August 8, 2000 - Conference Cast [off-site]
• Club Drugs Aren't "Fun Drugs" - Dr. Alan I. Leshner, Director of NIDA.
• The Science of Addiction - Dr. Alan I. Leshner, Director of NIDA, speaks to the Smithsonian Resident Associate Program in Washington, D.C. - RealAudio/RealVideo presentation [off-site]
• Addiction Is a Brain Disease, and It Matters, Published in Science Magazine
• Science-Based Views of Drug Addiction and its Treatment, Published in the Journal of American Medical Association
• Addicted to Nicotine, Appeared in papers nationwide from 4-6-98 to 9-24-99
• Why Should We Treat Addicts Anyway? The Solution We Refuse to Use, Currently appearing in papers nationwide since November, 1999.
• The Essence of Drug Addiction, Appeared in papers nationwide from 7-15-97 to 4-3-98
• Why Do Sally and Johnny Use Drugs?, Appeared in papers nationwide from 12-11-98 to 8-31-99

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Questions? See our Contact Information. Last updated on Wednesday, September 29, 2004.