Jefferson's Outpatient Substance Abuse Program Treats 3,000th Patient; City Honors Stephen P. Weinstein, PhD

After nearly 10 years of serving Philadelphia, Jefferson's Outpatient Intensive Substance Abuse Treatment Program recently treated its 3,000th patient.

The project was originally funded by a contract with Philadelphia's Coordinating Office on Drug and Alcohol Programs and subsequently with a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to treat cocaine addiction in adults. Over time Jefferson's Outpatient Cocaine Treatment Program has broadened into research and treatment of other adult addictions as well.

Treating 3,000 patients, most of them from the South Philadelphia area served by this program, reflects both the continuing need for this level of care as well as the support and acceptance by the local community. By design, the program offers a unique opportunity for Jefferson investigators to evaluate different types of treatment and outcomes, and to explore genetic, biochemical and behavioral correlates of addiction.

The program was created and directed by Edward Gottheil, MD, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Jefferson Medical College (JMC), and Stephen P. Weinstein, PhD, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, and Clinical Assistant Professor of Family Medicine, JMC.

Ronald D. Serota, MD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, JMC, is now the program's Clinical Director and Robert Sterling, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, JMC (holding his own research grant) is the project's Administrative Coordinator. Allan Lundy, PhD, and Ashwin Patkar, MD, MRC PSYCH, Assistant Professors of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, JMC, both coordinate their own research projects at the clinic.

Coinciding with this patient admission milestone, Dr. Weinstein, Director of the Division of Substance Abuse Programs, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, JMC, was honored by the City of Philadelphia for his community efforts in battling substance abuse in the city.

Dr. Weinstein was the sole recipient of the Treatment Community Award at the second annual "Making A Difference" recognition dinner sponsored by the Drug and Alcohol Executive Commission, Edward G. Rendell, Mayor.

He has been directly involved in program development, administration, research, clinical service delivery and supervision of Jefferson's substance abuse treatment and research programs for 25 years.

Dr. Weinstein has been Chairman of the Pennsylvania Forum of Drug and Alcohol Programs, Vice Chairman of the Pennsylvania Alliance of Drug and Alcohol Organizations and a member of the Board of Directors of the Philadelphia AIDS Consortium.

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