Welcome!

Welcome to this issue of the C-DIAS newsletter!

Please share with colleagues, friends, and anyone else you know who might be interested in our work and encourage them to subscribe to our newsletter.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock of denial, you are acutely aware of the threats to things we hold dear: Science, education, health and health care, equity for the marginalized and disempowered, justice, and even the accurate portrayal of our history. There are gravitational pulls toward despair and distraction, driven by a sense of profound powerlessness.

Across this era of narcissistic and self-serving wilderness, there are campfires stoked by people who remember, who are willing to fight for those things we hold dear, and perhaps things we have heretofore taken for granted.

Resilience, determination, perseverance, and an indomitable positive spirit are remarkable among those challenging the current status quo. These challengers work through the methods of politics, communications, art, science, and public health. There is hope. There is action.

On a daily basis, I am fortunate to be surrounded and inspired by the C-DIAS community. The C-DIAS campfire rages. We continue to aggressively pursue our tripartite mission: to improve the science of implementation; to improve equitable access to the highest quality addiction treatment; and to increase the intellectual and social capital of the next generation dedicated to improving addiction science and treatment.

I am grateful to be a part of this community. I appreciate each and all of you more than you know.

Onward.

Highlights from the 18th Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation in Health

C-DIAS faculty, fellows, and staff gathered in Washington, D.C., in December for the 18th Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation in Health, sharing research focused on improving the science of implementation and real-world implementation projects in substance use, mental health, and health systems.

A major highlight of the conference was a plenary session featuring Sara Becker, PhD, who was invited to speak as part of “Realizing the Benefits of D&I Science: Stories of Impact.” Becker described her global, high-impact research program implementing contingency management for people with opioid and stimulant use disorders in community treatment settings. Her remarks underscored the real-world effectiveness of strong community partnerships and rigorous implementation strategies. Becker also honored the essential contributions of our C-DIAS colleague Bryan Garner.

The conference also provided an opportunity for connection beyond the formal sessions. Colleagues gathered for the annual Stanford social networking event at a nearby restaurant, creating a casual opportunity to reconnect and build our community. The gathering offered a welcome pause during a busy conference week.

Visual Tools to Disseminate Your Work



C-DIAS infographics are clear, visual tools designed to distill key research findings and promote access to the best treatments for all. These infographics serve as practical resources to help promote actionable steps across stakeholders in health systems.

Infographics translate implementation science into action by offering concrete recommendations to guide treatment adoption, shape policy, and engage partners.

Check out our newest infographics on the C-DIAS website.

Current titles include:

• Design of a cluster-randomized, hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation trial of a care navigation intervention to increase substance use disorder treatment engagement: study protocol. Addiction Science & Clinical Practice 20, 78 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13722-025-00605-7

• Using the IFASIS (Inventory of Factors Affecting Successful Implementation and Sustainment) to advance context-specific and generalizable knowledge of implementation determinants: Case study of a digital contingency management platform. Implementation Science Communications, 6(1), 35. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43058-025-00708-x

• Three trajectories of implementation of medications for opioid use disorder in primary care. Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 20, 69. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13722-025-00600-y

• Tracking implementation determinants over time using the IFASIS: multi-site analysis of opioid treatment programs implementing a digital contingency management platform. Implementation Science Communications, 6(1), 103. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43058-025-00783-0

Let us know if you have any feedback as we continue to optimize our communications — we’d love to hear from you.

Spotlight on Erika Crable, PhD, MPH



How do we move proven addiction treatments from policy papers into real-world care? For Erika Crable, implementation science is about closing that gap. 

Drawing on experience spanning federal policy, Medicaid financing, and addiction research, Crable’s work focuses on how evidence is — or isn’t — used to shape access to care. Now part of the Policy and Financing Core at the Center for Dissemination and Implementation at Stanford (C-DIAS), she examines how policy design, insurance structures, and stigma influence who gets treatment and who doesn’t. 

In this spotlight, Crable reflects on turning evidence into action, rethinking how policies are evaluated, and why implementation — not invention — is often the missing link.

Our Fellow Spotlight Series continues to profile the people driving implementation science forward — highlighting how fellows are translating evidence into practice across addiction treatment, mental health, policy, and health systems.

The most recent spotlights include Ximena Levander, MD, MDCR, Sarah Messmer, MD, Crystal Lederhos Smith, PhD, Enya Vroom, PhD, and Damian Chase-Begay, PhD, MS. Together, these stories offer a closer look at the lived experiences, research paths, and real-world challenges shaping the field today.

The C-DIAS Publication Library serves as a central hub for the center’s published research and visual resources on implementation science. It brings together peer-reviewed articles and infographics developed by C-DIAS faculty, fellows, and collaborators, making it easier to explore and share work focused on implementing evidence-based practices in addiction care.

If you’re looking for clear, accessible visuals that translate research findings into practice, the Publication Library offers a one-stop resource for learning, teaching, and dissemination.



Recently published

• Implementation outcomes included in NIDA Clinical Trials Network (CTN) studies: A systematic review of studies conducted over 20 years. Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment, 209811. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.josat.2025.209811

• Challenges With Buprenorphine Initiation in the Fentanyl Era—Adapting Effectively to the Moment. JAMA Network Open, 9(1), e2552140–e2552140. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.52140

Call for Abstracts: AHSR Conference

Abstract submissions are now open for the upcoming AHSR Conference, hosted by the Division of Epidemiology at the University of Utah’s Department of Internal Medicine. The conference brings together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to share work at the intersection of addiction, health services research, and real-world implementation.



The call welcomes abstracts that highlight rigorous, policy-relevant, and practice-informed research, including studies focused on substance use, health systems, equity, and implementation challenges and solutions.

We Want to Hear Your Voice!

Did you learn something new or hear something inspiring during a recent talk, presentation, or event that you recently attended? We want to hear from you! Please submit your thoughts, musings, or quotes to info@c-dias.org.