Research Interests

Dr. Brown has worked in the fields of mental health, criminal justice, and substance abuse as both clinician and researcher for the past 45 years.  Dr. Brown joined the staff of the newly formed National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) in 1975 after first serving as clinical psychologist in State and Veterans Administration programs in Ohio, and in the federal penitentiary at Terre Haute, Indiana, as well as acting as the research director for the District of Columbia Department of Corrections, and for the DC Narcotics Treatment Administration.  At NIDA he headed up its services research, treatment research, and clinical research programs, as well as developing NIDA’s intramural outpatient research facility and program in Baltimore, Maryland. Later, amidst a hail of confetti and some small arms fire, he returned to NIDA’s extramural program to head up the Institute’s outreach-based HIV prevention program which later was enacted into law on the basis of its success.  After leaving NIDA, Dr. Brown joined the staff of the Social Research Center (SRC) of the Friends Research Institute in 1996 as a Senior Investigator.  He also holds an adjunct appointment as professor of psychology at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and is a consulting scientist with the Institute of Behavioral Research at Texas Christian University.  Dr. Brown sits on the editorial boards of several substance abuse journals, and is the author of over 100 articles in refereed journals as well as having written a number of book chapters and edited several books.

His work with the SRC has centered on long-standing interests in the areas of developing and testing aftercare strategies for drug treatment clients generally and for offender clients specifically; examining issues and strategies regarding the recruitment and early engagement in treatment of substance abusers; examining issues and strategies that can further our work in the prevention of HIV and other infectious disease among substance abusers; and developing and testing strategies for achieving the adoption of evidence-based treatments by drug treatment programs.  To date, his extraordinarily talented colleagues at the SRC have successfully covered for him and he remains gainfully employed.

Selected Publications

Anglin, M.D., Brown, B.S., Dembo, R. & Leukefeld, C.  (2009)  Criminality and addiction: Selected issues for future policies, practice, & research.  Journal of Drug Issues, 39:89-100.

Flynn, p.m., & Brown, B.S. (in press). Co-occurring disorders in substance abuse treatment: Issues and prospects. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment.

Katz, E. S., Brown, B.S., Schwartz, R. P., King, S. D., Weintraub, E., & Barksdale, W. (in press). Impact of role induction on long-term treatment outcome. Journal of Addictive Diseases.

Brown, B.S. (2006). Evidence-based treatment: Why, what, where, and how – Commentary. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 30, 87-89.

Kinlock, T. W., Sears, E. A., O’Grady, K. E., Callaman, J. M., & Brown, B.S. (2005). The effect of motivational enhancement therapy on drug abuse treatment retention among drug court clients. Journal of Community Corrections, 15, 11-17, 27.

Katz, E. C., Brown, B.S., Schwartz, R., Weintraub, E., Barksdale, W., & Robinson, R. (2004). Role induction: A method for enhancing early retention in outpatient drug-free treatment. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 72, 227-234.

Brown, B.S., O'Grady, K. E., Battjes, R. J., & Katz, E. C. (2004) The Community Assessment Inventory - Client views of supports to drug abuse treatment. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 27:241-251.

Brown, B.S., O'Grady, K. E., Battjes, R. J., & Farrell, E. V. (2004). Factors associated with treatment outcomes in an aftercare population. American Journal on Addictions, 13, 447-460.

Barry, B.S., & Flynn, p.m. (2002). The federal role in drug abuse technology transfer: A history and perspective. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 22(4), 245-257.

Brown, B.S., O’Grady, K. E., Farrell, E. V., Flechner, I. S., & Nurco, D. N. (2001). Factors associated with frequent and infrequent HIV testing. Substance Use and Misuse, 36, 1593-1609.

Brown, B.S., O’Grady, K. E., Farrell, E. V., Flechner, I. S., & Nurco, D. N. (2001). Factors associated with frequency of 12-Step attendance by drug abuse clients. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 27, 147-160.

Brown, B.S., O'Grady, K. E., Battjes, R. J., Farrell, B. Y., Smith, N. P., & Nurco, D. N. (2001). Effectiveness of a stand-alone aftercare program for drug-involved offenders. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 21:185-192.

Brown, B.S., Kinlock, TW. & Nurco, D. N. (2001). Self-help initiatives to reduce the risk of relapse. In: Platt, JJ, Tims, FM, & Leukefeld, CG. Relapse and Recovery Processes in the Addictions. New Haven: Yale University Press.

Brown, B.S. (1998). Drug use–Chronic and relapsing or a treatable condition. Substance Use and Misuse, 33(2), 2515-2520.

Simpson, D. D., Joe, G. W., & Brown, B.S. (1997). Length of stay in treatment and follow-up outcomes in DATOS. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 11, 294-307.

Fletcher, B. W., Tims, F. M., & Brown, B.S. (1997). National treatment evaluations and the Drug Abuse Treatment Outcome Study (DATOS). Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 11:216-229.

Brown, B.S. (1997). Staffing patterns and services for the war on drugs. In J. Egertson, D. M. Fox, and A. I. Leshner, (Eds. ). Treating Drug Abusers Effectively. Blackwell Press.

Brown, B.S., & McLellan, A. T. (1996). HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse Treatment. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 13 (no. 5).

Brown, B.S. (1996). Policy issues and policy development in drug abuse. In B. L. Levin and J. Petrilla (Eds. ), Mental Health Services: A Public Health Perspective, Oxford Press

Camacho, L. M., Brown, B.S., & Simpson, D. D. (1996). Psychological dysfunction and HIV/AIDS risk behavior. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes and Human Retrovirology, 11(2), 198-202.

Joe, G. W., Brown, B.S., & Simpson, D. D. (1995). Psychological problems and client engagement in methadone treatment. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 183(11), 704-710.

Simpson, D. D., Chatham, L. R., & Brown, B.S. (1995). The role of evaluation research in drug abuse policy. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 4(4), 123-126.

Brown, B. S & Needle, R. H. (1994). Modifying the process of treatment to meet the threat of AIDS. International Journal of the Addictions, 29, 739-1752.

Brown, B.S., & Beschner, G. M. (1993). Handbook on Risk of AIDS - Injection Drug Users and Sexual Partners. Wesport, Conn. : Greenwood Press.

Brown, B.S., & Beschner, G. M. (1989). AIDS and HIV infection - implications for drug abuse treatment. Journal of Drug Issues, 19:141-162.

Brown, B.S. (1985). Federal drug abuse policy and minority group issues - reflections of a participant observer. International Journal of the Addictions, 20:203-216.