The Institute for Research, Education, and Training in Addictions (IRETA) is a 501 (c) (3) organization that works with national, state, and local partners to improve recognition, prevention, treatment, research and policy related to addiction and recovery.

To achieve its mission, IRETA will provide:

• Accurate and timely dissemination of evidence-based information.
• Bidirectional exchange of constructive knowledge related to addiction and recovery.
• Knowledge of addiction and recovery in a culturally competent manner.

Information Collection and Dissemination

IRETA will engage in developing an information base and appropriate systems for accessing and updating information/research in the area of substance abuse. In addition, a variety of activities and channels have been developed for dissemination of these state-of-the-art research findings.

Training and Education

IRETA will engage in two major types of training. First will be substance abuse training for professionals in direct prevention, intervention or treatment roles in the provider community. This training is designed to provide continuing education opportunities that can be applied as credits required by the State for certifi­cation or licensure. The second will be interdisciplinary training, targeted towards professionals in the human service field who are involved in providing direct services or in program or policy development in their professional role. IRETA is approved by the Pennsylvania Certification Board to provide credits for addictions practitioners and is also a co-sponsor with the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work to provide continuing education credits for social workers.

Research and Evaluation

IRETA, as part of its "Technology Transfer" goal, will conduct independent research and evaluation efforts, coordinate the integration of state-of-the-art research findings for education and training purposes, and encourage future research initiatives within the Commonwealth. IRETA's research and evaluation efforts will be guided by its statewide steering committee and academic partners.

Policy Objectives

IRETA will work toward the alignment of science, policy and practice in the area of substance abuse. IRETA will identify and prioritize gaps in the current health care delivery system; convene workshops and other forums that provide an opportunity for policy makers to discuss the issues; develop and disseminate materials that can be used to support advocacy efforts; synthesize research findings to support specific policy choices and develop "point papers" describing policy change/policy development initiatives occurring throughout the country.

Who is IRETA's Target Audience?

IRETA focuses on providing information, technical assistance, and educational resources for policymakers, providers (prevention, treatment, recovery, and non-specialized healthcare workers who also provide substance use disorder care), educators, consumers and their families, and administrators. However, all materials can be accessed by anyone interested in the prevention of, treatment of, and recovery from alcohol or other drug dependence.

What Does IRETA Hope to Achieve?

IRETA's overall goals focus on influencing health care policy related to addictions, transferring research knowledge into practice, educating and training providers of addiction care, and acting as an advocate for the addictions field. In the short-term, IRETA provides special training on significant topics in the field, responds to requests for topic-specific trainings, and creates educational materials, all with the goal of improving the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of providers. In the long-term, IRETA works toward the consistent and sustained use of evidence-based practices, policies that support care which treat addiction as the chronic illness that it is, and the elimination of stigma related to addiction.

Why do we need IRETA?

In its 2001 report, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Brandeis University labeled substance abuse as America's number one preventable public health problem. Despite the fact that addiction is a contributing or causal factor to many other chronic health conditions, medical and criminal justice costs from untreated substance use disorders cost the public millions of dollars every year, and that research indicates that treatment is the most cost-effective of all interventions; millions of people and their families continue to suffer from addiction. While there have been many scientific advances in the understanding of addiction and its treatment, this information has not been used to update policy and practice related to the illness. Although the divide between science and practice/policy is widely recognized, there are only a handful of organizations like IRETA in the country that specifically focus on bridging this gap. IRETA has and will continue to play a vital role in linking providers, policymakers, researchers, and other stakeholders to ultimately improve prevention, treatment, and recovery.