D.C. Update – September 4, 2015

News from NASADAD

Heather Dougherty joins NASADAD’s Research and Program Applications Department

News from the States

Interview with Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin highlights substance use disorder treatment success

Around the Agencies

SAMHSA study finds variations in first-time substance use among college students

In the News

President Obama proclaims September 2015 as National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month

Upcoming Events

SAMHSA announces webinar on campus-based prevention data collection
ONDCP announces online event in celebration of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month
Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program announces webinar on incorporating substance use disorder services into Medicaid managed care contracts

News from NASADAD

Heather Dougherty joins NASADAD’s Research and Program Applications Department
NASADAD is pleased to announce that Heather Dougherty has been hired to join the Research and Program Applications Department. Heather will serve as liaison to the Women’s Services Network (WSN) and Youth Coordinators Committee, among other duties. Heather previously served as a contractor for the United States Army where she worked as a Drug and Alcohol Prevention Specialist. In this capacity, she worked closely with military and civilian populations located at Fort Dietrich and Walter Reed Naval Hospital. Heather also worked with homeless populations in Connecticut as a member of AmeriCorps. Heather earned her B.S. degree from James Madison University where she majored in Health Science with a Public Health Concentration. Heather earned her Master’s in Public Health at the University of Massachusetts.

Heather can be reached via email at heather@nasadad.org or by phone at (202) 293-0090 x4874.

News from the States

Interview with Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin highlights substance use disorder treatment success
A new interview in Governing Magazine with Vermont’s Governor Peter Shumlin highlights the State’s success in fighting substance use disorders by increasing access to medication-assisted treatment. Governor Shumlin invested $6.7 million for a “’hub and spoke” treatment system of central facilities with small treatment outposts, medication-assisted treatment accessibility, tougher sentences for drug traffickers, and new regulations for prescribing and monitoring prescription drugs. Individuals arrested for possession of illicit drugs in Vermont now have the option of avoiding jail time and a criminal record by choosing to enter treatment. Vermont has rapidly built new treatment facilities to facilitate this policy, and now leads the country in number of providers per 1,000 adults with substance use disorders. The program has seen measurable success, with Vermont reporting in January 2015 that “medically assisted drug treatment increased by 40 percent, and of those who completed treatment plans 75 percent showed improved functioning.”

Around the Agencies

SAMHSA study finds variations in first-time substance use among college students
A new Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) study has found first-time substance use among college-students varies substantially depending on the type of drug being used. Using information from SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2002 to 2013, the study found that first-time marijuana use among college students peaks in June with an average of 1,500 new users a day – compared to a 1,000 new users per day year-long average. A similar pattern is observed among first time users of alcohol, with an average of 1,883 college students trying alcohol for the first time in June compared to a 1,200 a day year-long average. Conversely, non-medical use of prescription medication including pain relievers and stimulants peaks during the winter with 850 initiates a day in December, compared to a 700 per day year-long average. SAMHSA notes that the increase in prescription medication during December may be related to the belief that prescription stimulants aid exam performance. The study concludes with a call for parents and college staff to discuss the risks of substance abuse with college students.

In the News

President Obama proclaims September 2015 as National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month
President Obama announced September 2015 as National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. This year’s theme is “Join the Voices for Recovery: Visible, Vocal, Valuable!” This year’s Recovery Month aims to eliminate the negative stigma associated with substance use disorders, and encourage communities to increase prevention and treatment efforts. The proclamation further affirms the Obama Administration’s pursuit of evidence-based strategies to treat substance use disorders as part of a broader drug control strategy.

NASADAD encourages members to submit a copy of their State’s recovery month proclamation to Shalini Wickramatilake-Templeman, Public Policy Associate, at swickramatilake@nasadad.org.

Upcoming Events

SAMHSA announces webinar on campus-based prevention data collection
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency (SAMHSA) has announced a webinar on campus-based prevention data collection. The webinar will be held on October 1, 2015 from 3:00-4:00PM EST, and will discuss ongoing efforts with college campuses to improve the collection of primary and secondary prevention data for college student populations. Best practices for approaching college administrators and other stakeholders will be discussed.

ONDCP announces online event in celebration of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month
The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) has announced an online event to be held at the White House in celebration of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month (Recovery Month). The event will be held on September 17, 2015 from 7:00-8:00PM EST and will target youth currently in recovery from substance use disorders. A panel of leaders working within youth recovery will speak at the event to educate and inform viewers on the benefits of seeking recovery. The panel will take questions from Twitter during the event using the hashtag #Recovery atWH prior to or during the event. The event will be broadcasted on the White House’s website here.

Please contact Nataki MacMurray at recovery@ondcp.eop.gov or (202) 395-5510 with any questions.

Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program announces webinar on incorporating substance use disorder services into Medicaid managed care contracts
The Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program (IAP) has announced a webinar on the incorporation of substance use disorder services into Medicaid managed care contracts. The webinar will be held on Monday, September 14 from 3:30-5:00PM ES as part of IAP’s new Targeted Learning Opportunities (TLOs) initiative. The webinar will highlight several State models for the incorporation of substance use disorder services including carve-ins and carve-outs, in addition to discussing the key factors for merging substance use disorder services into managed care. Representatives from Arizona will speak on their new “integrated physical and behavioral health managed care program,” and Beacon Health Options will provide the health plan perspective of working with States transitioning to managed care models for substance use disorder services.

Should you have any questions, or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact Robert Morrison, Executive Director, (202) 293-0090 or Shalini Wickramatilake-Templeman, Public Policy Associate, at (202) 293-0090.