News from NASADAD

• NASADAD releases fact sheet on methamphetamine
• NASADAD attends Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Data for Health: Learning What Works meeting

Around the Agencies

• SAMHSA now accepting applications for FY 2015 Targeted Capacity Expansion: Substance Use Disorder Treatment for Racial/Ethnic Minority Populations at High-Risk for HIV/AIDS grants (TCE-HIV)
• SAMHSA now accepting applications for FY 2015 Substance Abuse and HIV Prevention Services Grants
• SAMHSA now accepting applications for FY 2015 Minority Serving Institutions Partnerships with Community-Based Organizations grants
• SAMHSA now accepting applications for FY 2015 PPHF – 2015 Cooperative Agreements for State-Sponsored Youth Suicide Prevention and Early Intervention grants
• SAMHSA now accepting applications for FY 2015 Joint Adult Drug Court Solicitation to Enhance Services, Coordination, and Treatment grants
• SAMHSA’s CAPT releases new resources for Native American youth with substance use disorders
• SAMHSA releases Federal Guidelines for Opioid Treatment
• SAMHSA releases new guide on medication treatment for alcohol use disorder
• NIH study defines brain and behavioral effects of teenage binge drinking
• NIH study suggests physicians often miss diagnosis for substance use disorders
• NIAAA recognizes 2015 Alcohol Awareness Month

In the News

• Rhode Island health home opioid treatment programs show signs of success in decreasing Medicaid costs and improving health outcomes
• State Health Care Spending Project releases 50-State study on substance use disorders and the role of States

News from NASADAD

NASADAD releases fact sheet on methamphetamine
NASADAD announced the release of the fact sheet on Friday, April 3^rd. The fact sheet provides information on national trends in methamphetamine use and admissions to treatment, as well as the public health impacts of methamphetamine use. In 2013, approximately 595,000 Americans reported that they used methamphetamine during the past month according to data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). This represents a 35 percent increase from 2012 data. The fact sheet also provides information about State substance abuse agencies and their efforts to fund evidence-based prevention, treatment, and recovery initiatives on methamphetamine use and substance abuse generally. NASADAD utilized data and research findings from a variety of sources including the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), the Monitoring the Future survey, the Treatment Episode Dataset (TEDS), and a variety of resources from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

NASADAD attends Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Data For Health: Learning What Works meeting
The meeting was sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and was attended by Brian Denten, Public Policy Intern. Speakers and panelists spoke about the importance of data in creating better outcomes for patients and facilitating more effective clinical studies. The meeting was the culmination of five regional meetings that took place across the country over the past year, where the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation spoke with community health professionals on their views of the importance of data in the future of health care. The session concluded with a discussion about recognizing differences between communities when considering health care delivery.

Speakers/Panelists:

• Susannah Fox; Entrepreneur in Residence, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
• John Lumpkin, MD, MPH; Senior Vice President and Director of Targeted Teams
• Joe Pringle, MS; Director of Health, Socrata
• Bernie Mazyck; President and Chief Executive Officer, South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development
• Sharon Terry, MA; President and Chief Executive Officer, Genetic Alliance
• Stephen Friend, MD, PhD; Co-Founder, Sage Bionetworks
• Ivor Braden Horn, MD, MPH; Medical Director, Center for Diversity and Health Equity, Seattle Children’s Hospital
• Deven McGraw, JD, MPH, LLM; Partner, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP
• David A. Ross, ScD; Director, Public Health Informatics Institute
• Gilbert Salinas, MPA; Chief Clinical Officer, Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center
• Karen DeSalvo, MD, MPH, MSc; National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, US Department of Health and Human Services
• Michael Painter, JD, MD; Senior Program Officer, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Around the Agencies

SAMHSA now accepting applications for FY 2015 Targeted Capacity Expansion: Substance Use Disorder Treatment for Racial/Ethnic Minority Populations at High-Risk for HIV/AIDS grants
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is now accepting applications for FY 2015 Targeted Capacity Expansion: Substance Use Disorder Treatment for Racial/Ethnic Minority Populations at High-Risk for HIV/AIDS grants. Grant funding should be used to expand substance use disorder treatment, co-occurring mental health, and HIV programs for high-risk populations. The program aims to reduce the risk of HIV and other associated viral infections among high-risk populations. Grantees will be awarded an anticipated amount of up to $500,000 per year. Applications are due by Thursday, May 14, 2015.

SAMHSA now accepting applications for FY 2015 Substance Abuse and HIV Prevention Services grants
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is now accepting applications for FY 2015 Substance Abuse and HIV Prevention services grants. Grant funding should be used to aid local public and private nonprofit organizations working in substance use disorder or HIV prevention services. The announcement notes that SAMHSA is especially interested in university clinics and community groups that are able to provide both substance use disorder and HIV prevention services. Grantees will be awarded an anticipated amount of up to $300,000 per year, for up to a five-year grant period. Applications are due by Thursday, April 23, 2015.

SAMHSA now accepting applications for FY 2015 Minority Serving Institutions Partnerships with Community-Based Organizations grants
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is now accepting applications for FY 2015 Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) Partnerships with Community-Based Organizations (CBOs). Grant funding should be used for substance use disorder and HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment among at-risk populations. This program helps support the primary goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy including reducing new HIV infections, expanding access to care for people with HIV, reducing HIV-related disparities and health inequities, and establishing a coordinated national response to the spread of HIV. Grantees will be awarded an anticipated amount of up to $300,000 per year, for up to a three-year grant period. Applications are due by Tuesday, May 26, 2015.

SAMHSA now accepting applications for FY 2015 PPHF – 2015 Cooperative Agreements for State-Sponsored Youth Suicide Prevention and Early Intervention grants
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is now accepting applications for FY 2015 PPHF – 2015 Cooperative Agreements for State-Sponsored Youth Suicide Prevention and Early Intervention grants. Grant funding should be used to support State and tribal efforts in developing youth suicide prevention and early intervention strategies. Potential programs include increased collaboration between youth-serving institutions and agencies, educational institutions, juvenile justice and foster care systems, and substance use disorder and mental health programs. Grantees will be awarded an anticipated amount of up to $736,000.

SAMHSA now accepting applications for FY 2015 Joint Adult Drug Court Solicitation to Enhance Services, Coordination, and Treatment grants
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is now accepting applications for the Joint Adult Drug Court Solicitation to Enhance Services, Coordination, and Treatment grant program in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The grant program provides resources to State, local, and tribal governments to enhance drug court programs. The BJA and SAMHSA will prioritize awards to areas without active BJA or SAMHSA drug courts. Applications are due by June, 1, 2015.

SAMHSA’s CAPT releases new resources for Native American youth with substance use disorders
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT) released new resources for Native American youth with substance use disorders this past week. The first resource, “Positive Youth Development: Using Strengths to Address Alcohol and Suicide among American Indian and Alaska Native Youth,” advises prevention professionals on culturally appropriate prevention techniques for use with the Native American community. The second resource, “Building the Evaluation Capacity of Local Programs Serving American Indian/Alaska Native Populations: Lessons Learned,” discusses the efforts of SAMHSA’s Service to Science initiative in building programs to meet the evaluation needs of Native American youth.

SAMHSA releases revised Federal Guidelines for Opioid Treatment
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released the revised Federal Guidelines for Opioid Treatment Programs this past week. The new guidelines convey the obligation opioid treatment programs (OTPs) have to ensure that treatment is delivered according to “the patient-centered, integrated and recovery oriented standards of substance use disorder treatment and medical care.” The guidelines also discuss changes regarding the implementation of new technologies (such as electronic health records, prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) and telemedicine) throughout health care. SAMHSA aims for the revised guidelines to be the primary reference and central measure for employees and stakeholders working with OTPs.

SAMHSA releases new guide on medication treatment for alcohol use disorder
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released new guidelines on medication treatment for alcohol use disorder this past week.  SAMHSA partnered with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) to create the guidelines. The guidelines compile information on the four currently Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved mediations for treating alcohol use disorder (disulfiram, oral naltrexone, extended release injectable naltrexone, and acamprosate). Topics within the guide include considering medications based on FDA-approved indications, screening patients at risk for alcohol use disorder, determining the need for medication-assisted treatment (MAT), the development of treatment plans, and the treatment of patients with co-occurring disorders.

NIH study defines brain and behavioral effects of teenage binge drinking
A National Institute of Health (NIH) study outlined the effects adolescent binge drinking has on gene regulation and brain development this past week. The study suggests that underage binge drinking promotes anxiety and excessive drinking that risks continuing into adulthood. The research team found that alcohol-exposed rats experienced lower expression of two genes that nerve cells need to form new connections with each other. This lower expression of genes continued into the rat’s adulthood even in the absence of additional exposure to alcohol. Additional studies are planned to investigate reversing the effects of adolescent alcohol use.

NIH study suggests physicians often miss diagnosis for substance use disorders
A recent National Institute of Health (NIH) study found that “more than 40 percent of patients receiving treatment for substance use disorders (SUD) reported their physician missed the diagnosis, and only 25 percent were involved in their decision to seek treatment.” A separate NIH study further found that HIV care providers rarely follow recommended guidelines when prescribing opioids and doubt their ability to accurate recognize pain medication misuse. Researchers suggest these deficiencies are a result of a lack of proper medical education training.
Another recent NIH study found that 47 percent of practicing primary care physicians reported their training was unsatisfactory in preparing them to treat opioid use disorders. Some States are beginning to require physicians take continuing medical education (CME) courses in pain management and controlled substance prescribing before obtaining medical licenses.

NIAAA recognizes 2015 Alcohol Awareness Month
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) is recognizing 2015’s Alcohol Awareness Month this April by educating the public on how excessive drinking can negatively affect health. 16.6 million Americans are estimated to have an alcohol use disorder, and almost one-quarter of people aged 18 and older reported consuming five or more alcohol drinks on the same occasion (binge drinking) in the past month. The NIAAA encourages people to assess their drinking habits this month.

In the News

Rhode Island health home opioid treatment programs show signs of success in decreasing Medicaid costs and improving health outcomes
Rhode Island’s health home opioid treatment programs (OTPs) have been successful at lowering Medicaid costs and improving the health of patients. Three leaders involved with Rhode Island’s OTP program spoke March 29^th at the national conference of the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (AATOD), stating that early data points to large decreases in hospitalization and pharmacy costs, in addition to member Medicaid costs decreasing by about $1,500 for the average 2014 health home patient. Rhode Island is one of a small number of states that has worked with the federal government to establish OTPs. For a two-year period, the federal government funds 90% of the health home portion of OTPs’ services. This period expires in June for Rhode Island, after which they will be responsible for 50% of health home costs.

State Health Care Spending Project releases 50-State study on substance use disorders and the role of States
The State Health Care Spending Project released a new 50-State study on substance use disorders and the role of States. The State Health Care Spending Project is an initiative of The Pew Charitable Trusts and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. The study discusses the prevalence of substance use disorders, different treatment options, how substance use disorder prevention and treatment is funded, and the potential impact of federal legislation. The report affirms the importance of States and localities in meeting the needs of people who need treatment for substance use disorders.

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

News from NASADAD

• NASADAD attends Senate Veteran Affairs Committee hearing on Veteran Affairs Opioid Prescription Policy, Practice, and Procedures
• NASADAD attends House Energy and Commerce hearing on local responses to opioid use

Around the Agencies

• SAMHSA updates KnowBullying smartphone application in recognition of National Youth Violence Prevention Week
• SAMHSA now accepting applications for FY 2015 Offender Reentry Program grants

In the News

• Treatment Research Institute seeks input on The Support Group Project
• New York Attorney General determines Excellus Health Plan denied inpatient substance use disorder and mental health services at higher rate than other inpatient services
• Partnership for Drug-Free Kids releases new resource for parents on teenage marijuana use
• American Society of Addiction Medicine releases new report on addiction specialist performance measures
• Indiana orders short-term needle exchange program to fight HIV outbreak
• Kentucky Governor signs bill designed to address heroin problem.

News from NASADAD

NASADAD attends Senate Veteran Affairs Committee hearing on Veterans Affairs Opioid Prescription Policy, Practice, and Procedures
The hearing was attended by Brian Denten, Public Policy Intern. Senators questioned panelists about ongoing investigations into pain management and prescribing procedures at different Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) facilities. Both Senators and panelists stressed the importance of improving communication between VA facilities, private health care providers, and pharmacies in order to better monitor veterans receiving pain medication. The Veterans Health Administration is currently developing a network to address communication problems that will allow private healthcare providers access to the VA network. Research into the viability of alternative treatment models for complex chronic pain conditions continues to be conducted.

Panelists:

• Carolyn Clancy; Interim Undersecretary of Veterans Affairs for Health, Veterans Health Administration
• Gavin West; Special Assistant, Clinical Operations, Veterans Health Administration
• Michael Valentino; Chief Consultant, Pharmacy Benefits Management Services
• John D. Daigh, Jr.; Assistant Inspector General of Veterans Affairs for Health Care Inspections, Office of Inspector General
• Caleb Alexander; Co-Director, Center for Drug Safety and Effectiveness, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
• Carol Foster; Physician Director, Pharmacy and Therapeutics/Medication Safety, Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group, Kaiser Permanente
• John Gadea; Director, Drug Control Division, Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection

NASADAD attends House Energy and Commerce hearing on local response to opioid use
Rob Morrison, Executive Director and Colleen Haller, Public Policy Associate attended the hearing in the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations on Thursday, March 26^th. The panelists offered a variety of perspectives including law enforcement, substance use disorder treatment providers, researchers, neonatal medicine, and youth recovery workers. Both members of the committee and panelists highlighted the need for evidence-based practices, including medication-assisted treatment (MAT), increase prevention efforts, access to naloxone, access to recovery support services, and collaboration with law enforcement. Chairman Murphy (R-PA) outlined his interest in the topic saying, “Something is desperately wrong with our nation’s response to the opioid epidemic, and it is quite literally a matter of life and death that we get honest answers and not remain misguided in our approach to how we solve this crisis.”

Panelists:

• Rachelle Gardner; Chief Operating Officer, Hope Academy (Recovery High School)
• Caleb Banta-Green; Senior Research Scientist, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute, University of Washington
• Michael Griffin; Narcotics Unit Supervisor, Tulsa Police Department
• Fred Wells Brason II; President and CEO, Project Lazarus
• Victor Fitz; Cass County (MI) Prosecutor, President of Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan
• Stephan Maxwell; Chair, West Virginia Perinatal Partnership
• Sarah Melton; Chair, OneCare of Southwest Virginia

Around the Agencies

SAMHSA updates KnowBullying smartphone application in recognition of National Youth Violence Prevention Week
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) updated its KnowBullying smartphone application this past week in recognition of National Youth Violence Prevention Week (March 23-27, 2015). The application provides tools for parents and educators to discuss bullying with children, as well as information on how to reach out to local mental health services. National Youth Violence Prevention Week serves as a time for parents, educators, and caregivers to talk about best practices to reduce youth violence. The application is targeted at the needs of children ages 3-18, and is available for free on Android and iOS devices.

SAMHSA now accepting applications for FY 2015 Offender Reentry Program grants
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is now accepting applications for FY 2015 Offender Reentry Program grants. Grant funds should be used to expand access to substance use disorder treatment and reentry programs to sentenced offenders who are returning to their communities from incarceration. Applicants are expected to form coalitions with relevant stakeholders to create programs easing the transition from incarceration to substance use disorder treatment programs. Applications are due by Tuesday, May 26, 2015. Grantees will be awarded an anticipated amount of up to $400,000 per year.

In the News

Treatment Research Institute seeks input on The Support Group Project
The Treatment Research Institute (TRI) is seeking input on The Support Group Project; a directory produced to help families struggling with substance use disorders. Launched last fall, the project aims to provide a listing of the available support groups that exist. Nearly two-thirds of all families are affected by substance use disorders, yet often struggle to find robust community resources. The Support Group Project bridges this gap by providing an easy way to access and research support group options. The Treatment Research Institute invites eligible support groups to register on the project’s website.

New York Attorney General determines Excellus Health Plan denied inpatient substance use disorder and mental health services at higher rate than other inpatient services
New York Attorney General Eric T. Scheniderman announced a settlement with Excellus Health Plan last week.  Finding that Excellus denied claims for inpatient substance use disorder and mental health services at seven times the rate of other inpatient services, the settlement requires the healthcare provider to cover residential treatments and revise its claims review process for both services. Excellus will also be required to notify 3,300 members whose claims for substance use disorder and mental health services were denied, possibly returning up to $9 million to patients.

Partnership for Drug-Free Kids releases new resource for parents on teenage marijuana use
The Partnership for Drug-Free kids released the new resource, “Marijuana Talk Kit: What You Need to Know to Talk with Your Kids about Marijuana” this past week. Targeted at parents of teenagers, the Talk Kit provides parents with information on how to meaningfully discuss marijuana with their children. The increased prevalence of medical and legalized marijuana, in addition to the normalization of marijuana in pop culture, can make it difficult for parents to talk about marijuana with their children. 41 percent of marijuana users report initiating use before the age of 15, making early parental involvement especially important.

American Society of Addiction Medicine releases new report on addiction specialist performance measures
The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) released a new report on addiction specialist performance measures this past week. The report is part of a multi-year ASAM project to standardize evaluation and management processes for substance use disorders, in addition to raising the overall quality of substance use disorder care throughout the country.

Indiana orders short-term needle exchange program to fight HIV outbreak
Indiana Governor Mike Pence announced a short-term needle exchange program to fight a growing HIV outbreak in southeastern Indiana. The program will last 30 days in Scott County, where 79 recent HIV cases have been linked to intravenous drug use. Local county authorities will have authority over the program. Though historically opposed to needle exchanges, Governor Pence stated, “In response to a public health emergency, I’m prepared to make an exception to my long-standing opposition to needle exchange programs.”

Kentucky Governor signs bill designed to address heroin problem
Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear signed bipartisan legislation combatting the State’s heroin epidemic into law this past week. The bill enacts stricter punishments for both low and high level heroin dealers, including mandatory sentencing requirements. The legislation also provides more than $20 million a year for treatment and other anti-drug efforts, and gives local health departments the option to establish needle exchange programs (with approval from city and county governments). Pharmacists are now allowed to prescribe naloxone to people at risk for an opioid overdose and families of people at risk under the new law. Finally, the new law grants Good Samaritan protections for individuals who call for help during an overdose. These protections offer limited immunity from some drug related charges such as possession and drug paraphernalia.

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