Innovative Clinical Addiction Research Training Track in Preventive Medicine

Medical education related to identification, diagnosis and management of alcohol and other drug problems receives inadequate attention in the undergraduate curriculum and during residency training. This article describes the design, implementation, and evaluation of a new track in Clinical Addiction Research Training (CART) in a General Preventive Medicine (GPM) residency program. CART is comprised of a new course in Addiction Medicine, new practicum sites in addiction medicine research and treatment, and a CART-designated resident. An Advisory Group of educators, researchers, scholars, and administrators in addiction medicine, has provided guidance and support for this new track. Evaluation of the CART track suggested improvements in residents' knowledge and attitudes. Residents engaged in high caliber clinical addiction research projects. The development of the CART track within the GPM residency is an approach that can be integrated into other specialties, such as internal medicine, family practice, and adolescent medicine, to develop residents' interest and expertise in the addictive behaviors.