Part 9/9 What’s missing? In previous posts, I explained the challenges of making sense of research and introduced 8 questions that will help readers evaluate evidence and relevance to their work, goals, and lives. Today is question #6. 8) What questions does the study not answer? No study can answer every question, nor should any … Continue reading A consumer’s guide to research on substance use disorders (part 9)

Part 8/9 Who is funding the research, and what are their motives? In previous posts, I explained the challenges of making sense of research and introduced 8 questions that will help readers evaluate evidence and relevance to their work, goals, and lives. Today is question #7. 7) Were there any conflicts of interest (real or … Continue reading A consumer’s guide to research on substance use disorders (part 8)

Part 7/9 Do the authors accurately represent the findings of the study? Watch out for whether the “discussion” section of the study is actually supported by the data. In previous posts, I explained the challenges of making sense of research and introduced 8 questions that will help readers evaluate evidence and relevance to their work, … Continue reading A consumer’s guide to research on substance use disorders (part 7)

Part 6/9 In previous posts, I explained the challenges of making sense of research and introduced 8 questions that will help readers evaluate evidence and relevance to their work, goals, and lives. Today is question #5. 5) What were the study methods? There are many approaches used in SUD research and each approach offers advantages … Continue reading A consumer’s guide to research on substance use disorders (part 6)

Part 5/9 This is really important. The outcomes measured in studies are often reduction is symptoms (fewer overdoses, fewer deaths, fewer days incarcerated, fewer instances of disease transmission) and not the presence of positive indicators of health and wellness (stable housing, employment, positive relationships, sense of purpose, etc). In previous posts, I explained the challenges … Continue reading A consumer’s guide to research on substance use disorders (part 5)

Part 3/9 Not all people need the same types of help, so paying attention to the demographics and problem severity is important in trying to determine what works and for whom. A couple days ago, I explained the challenges of making sense of research and introduced 8 questions that will help readers evaluate evidence and … Continue reading A consumer’s guide to research on substance use disorders (part 3)

Part 2/9 Not all interventions are the same. What are we offering to try to help, and to whom, and with what frequency and duration? Yesterday, I explained the challenges of making sense of research and introduced 8 questions that will help readers evaluate evidence and relevance to their work, goals, and lives. 1) What … Continue reading A consumer’s guide to research on substance use disorders (part 2)