Mark W. Parrino, M.P.A.
President of the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence, located in New York City, Mr. Parrino has been a national advocate for sound public policy and best practices in clinical care for addiction treatment involving medications such as methadone, buprenorphine, and others considered vital to recovery.
In addition to treating the disease of addiction, these approaches have contributed to reduced crime and have been a major factor in reducing the spread of AIDS through needle-sharing among drug abusers. He has been a tireless advocate in educating policy-makers on the value and cost-effectiveness of methadone maintenance and other pharmacotherapies for treating addiction.
One key to his success in establishing these therapies as the frontline addiction treatments has been his establishment of high standards for their use and evaluation. He has worked to build bridges between treatment providers who use and do not use such medications, and has promoted increased integration of the appropriate use of medications into behaviorally oriented treatment programs.
He has also brought attention to the fact that the relative absence of treatment and recovery services in the prison system has fueled a cycle of violence and crime. Mr. Parrino will use his award grant to develop methods to increase access to treatment, including medicines that have been proven effective in treating chronic opioid dependence, among prison inmates. This project has the potential to help halt the cycle of addiction and crime in America.
Source: Innovators Combating Substance Abuse
