News from NASADAD

• NASADAD updates opioids fact sheet
• NASADAD updates DOJ priority programs fact sheet
• NASADAD attends Washington Post event on criminal justice

News from the States

• New York releases new tool tracking substance use disorder treatment bed availability in real time

Around the Agencies

• FDA officials call for review of agency opioid policies
• SAMHSA releases new resource for understanding mental health and substance use disorder benefits
• SAMHSA announces FY 2016 Strategic Prevention Framework – Partnerships for Success grant program
• NIDA releases Strategic Plan for 2016-2020

In the News

• AHA names Wayne Young as chair of 2016 Constituency Section for Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Services
• National Alliance for Model State Drug Laws updates reports on marijuana legislation

News from NASADAD

NASADAD updates opioids fact sheet
NASADAD released an updated version of its opioids fact sheet last week. The fact sheet describes the latest statistics surrounding the ongoing opioid crisis, highlighting the importance of a comprehensive federal and State response in reducing the number of deaths resulting from overdoses.  Best treatment practices and important federal programs addressing opioid use disorders are also discussed in the fact sheet.

Read the fact sheet here.

NASADAD updates DOJ priority programs fact sheet
NASADAD released an updated version of its Department of Justice (DOJ) priority programs fact sheet last week. The fact sheet describes the important programs dealing with substance use disorders within the DOJ, including the Harold Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP), the Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program, the Second Chance Act, and the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners (RSAT) program, among several others. The funding histories and websites of each respective programs are also provided.

Read the fact sheet here.

NASADAD attends Washington Post event on criminal justice reform

Brian Denten, Public Policy Intern, attended a Washington Post event on criminal justice reform last week. During the event, titled “Out of Jail, Into Society,” speakers emphasized the importance of revising mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines and improving reentry programs in boosting the outcomes of incarcerated individuals once they exit the criminal justice system. Members of both parties asserted that criminal justice reform is a bipartisan issue, and can be addressed at the federal level through legislation such as the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015 (S. 123). Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to President Obama, spoke extensively on breaking the school to prison pipeline and improving early childhood education as a method for reducing the number of individuals incarcerated within the United States.

Speakers:

• Holly Harris; Executive Director, U.S. Justice Action Network
• Valerie Jarrett; Senior Advisor to the President
• Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT)
• Secretary of Corrections John E. Wetzel, Pennsylvania
• Glenn E. Martin; Founder and President, JustLeadershipUSA
• Teresa Hodge; Co-founder, Mission: Launch, Inc.
• Bernard B. Kerik; Founder, ACCJR.org; Former NYC Police and Correction Commissioner

News from the States

New York releases new tool tracking substance use disorder treatment bed availability in real time
New York Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, of which NASADAD member Arlene González-Sánchez is Commissioner, has released a new web-based tool for tracking substance use disorder treatment bed availability. The Bed Availability Dashboard collects data on bed availability from State-certified substance use disorder providers in real time before making the information available on the web application. The tool allows users to search for beds by region, age, and gender. Commissioner González-Sánchez states that, “connecting New Yorkers to addiction services is one of our top priorities. I encourage all New Yorkers in need of help to take advantage of this valuable resource to begin the journey towards recovery. Treatment is available and recovery is possible.” The Bed Availability Dashboard is the latest in a series of policies addressing substance use disorders in New York State.

Access the new tool here.

Around the Agencies

FDA officials call for review of agency opioid policies
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Deputy Commissioner for Medical Products and Tobacco, Dr. Robert Califf, and other FDA officials called for a reassessment of FDA opioid policies regarding opioid mediations last week. The agency’s plan includes a re-examination of the risk-benefit policies guiding opioid prescriptions, a convening of experts before approving new opioid medications, development of new prescription opioid labels, and the expansion of access to naloxone and medication-assisted treatment drugs. The FDA plans to work with other stakeholders to ensure a comprehensive overview is completed.

Read the full press release here.

SAMHSA releases new resource for understanding mental health and substance use disorder benefits
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released a new resource to help consumers better understand mental health and substance use disorder benefits last week. The pamphlet, titled “Parity of Mental Health and Substance Use Benefits with Other Benefits” examines the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) and the standards it created. The resource discusses why mental health and substance use disorder benefit claims may be denied, and how to effectively file an appeal if necessary.

Download the resource here.

SAMHSA announces FY 2016 Strategic Prevention Framework – Partnerships for Success grant program
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is now accepting applications for the FY 2016 Strategic Prevention Framework – Partnerships for Success Grant program. The program intends to address underage drinking among persons aged 12 to 20 and prescription drug misuse among persons aged 12 to 25. SAMHSA is offering up to three grant awards ranging from $318,543 to $1,230,000 per year for up to five years.

Read more about this grant program here.

NIDA releases Strategic Plan for 2016-2020
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) released its 2016-2020 Strategic Plan for advancing addiction science last week. The plan outlines the steps NIDA will take to utilize the latest technologies for the improvement of substance use disorder treatment outcomes. Four goals are identified within the plan: identifying the biological and behavioral causes and consequences of drug use and substance use disorders, developing new strategies for drug use prevention, developing new treatments (including medications, therapies, vaccines, and manipulation of brain activity), and increasing the reach of NIDA research and programs.

Access the strategic plan here.

In the News

AHA names Wayne Young as chair of 2016 Constituency Section for Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Services
The American Hospital Association (AHA) has announced that Wayne Young will serve as the organization’s Constituency Section for Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Services chair for 2016. Mr. Young currently serves as a Senior Vice President for Behavioral Health within the JPS Health Network in Fort Worth, Texas. As an AHA chair, Mr. Young will work with a 17-person governing council to identify ways to best utilize AHA resources to improve the quality, efficiency, and delivery of psychiatric and substance use disorder services.

Read the full press release here.

National Alliance for Model State Drug Laws updates reports on marijuana legislation
The National Alliance for Model State Drug Laws (NAMSDL) has updated its series of reports on medicinal, legal, and illegal marijuana legislation for 2016. The reports summarize ongoing and future efforts to regulate both the medical marijuana and legal marijuana industries at the State level. Two new reports are now available: one detailing legislation on the personal non-medical use of marijuana, and another summarizing legislation on medical marijuana use.

Read the non-medical use report here.

Read the medical marijuana report here.

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.

News from the States

• Pennsylvania releases opioid prescribing guidelines for geriatric pain, obstetrics & gynecology pain treatment
• Vermont releases health impact assessment on marijuana regulation
• CVS announces plans to offer over-the-counter naloxone in Ohio pharmacies

Around the Agencies

• SAMHSA announces Kimberly Johnson, PhD, as new Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment
• CMS releases Informational Bulletin on prescription opioid medications
• CDC releases Vital Signs report on alcohol and pregnancy

In the News

• National Alliance for Model State Drug Laws updates reports on marijuana legislation

News from the States

Pennsylvania releases opioid prescribing guidelines for geriatric pain, obstetrics & gynecology pain treatment
Pennsylvania’s Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, of which NASADAD member Gary Tennis is Secretary, released two new opioid prescribing guidelines last month—one  for geriatric pain and another for obstetrics & gynecology pain. The guidelines seek to help healthcare providers determine when to prescribe opioid pain relievers for patients versus other treatment options. The geriatric pain guidelines assert that overreliance on opioid treatment often results in inadequate pain control and misuse potential, and that “therapy for chronic pain with long acting opioids should be avoided in older adults.” If opioid therapy is selected as a treatment plan, dosages should begin low and increase over time.

The obstetrics & gynecology pain treatment prescribing guidelines recommend that all pregnant and postpartum women receive a brief screening for substance use disorders prior to opioid treatment, and that healthcare providers consider the risk of pregnancy before prescribing opioid painkillers to women of childbearing age. The guidelines address opioid painkiller usage by women who are breastfeeding, recommending that only select opioids be used.

Access the Prescribing Guidelines for Geriatric Pain here.

Access the Prescribing Guidelines for Obstetrics and Gynecology Pain Treatment here.

Vermont releases health impact assessment on marijuana regulation
Last month Vermont’s Department of Health, of which NASADAD member Barbara Cimaglio is Deputy Commissioner, released its health impact assessment on marijuana regulation. In 2014, Vermont hired the RAND Corporation to investigate the financial and policy implications of regulating marijuana, and the report provides an overview of the potential impact of regulated and taxed marijuana on the prevalence of mental health disorders, traffic safety problems, substance use disorders, and academic outcomes. Vermont’s State legislature is currently considering a bill that would regulate marijuana for adult use.

Read the full report here.

CVS announces plans to offer over-the-counter naloxone in Ohio pharmacies
The pharmacy chain CVS announced plans to offer over-the-counter naloxone in its Ohio locations last week. Beginning in late March, all CVS Pharmacy locations in Ohio will make naloxone available over-the-counter without a prescription. Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Director Michael Botticelli joined CVS in making the announcement, underlining the importance of expanding naloxone availability in reducing opioid overdoses.

Read more about this story here.

Around the Agencies

SAMHSA announces Kimberly Johnson, PhD, as new Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment
Last week the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration announced a new Director for its Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), Kimberly Johnson, PhD. A former NASADAD member for the State of Maine, Dr. Johnson has dedicated her career to developing and promoting effective and innovative substance use disorder treatment services, programs and practices.  Currently, Dr. Johnson serves as co-director of the national office that coordinates the Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC).  In addition, she serves as director of operations of CHESS/Network for the Improvement of Addiction Treatment (NIATx) located at the University of Wisconsin.  NASADAD looks forward to working with Dr. Johnson in her new role.

View SAMHSA’s press release about the appointment here.

CMS releases Informational Bulletin on prescription opioid medications
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released an Informational Bulletin discussing the health risks associated with prescription opioid medications last week. The bulletin describes the unique impact opioids have on Medicaid and Medicare populations, stating that “Medicaid beneficiaries are prescribed painkillers at twice the rate of non-Medicaid patients and are at three-to-six times the risk of prescription painkiller overdose.” CMS expresses that Medicaid and Medicare can help fight the opioid overdose epidemic through the adoption of smarter pain management strategies, including provider education, preferred drug lists, step therapy, prior authorization, and quantity limits. The bulletin recommends that State Medicaid programs work to improve access to naloxone by placing naloxone on Medicaid preferred drug lists and expanding community-based naloxone distribution programs.

View the full bulletin here.

CDC releases Vital Signs report on alcohol and pregnancy
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a new Vital Signs report on alcohol and pregnancy last week. The report notes the complications that may arise as a result of using alcohol during pregnancy, including fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). The CDC recommends healthcare professionals provide alcohol use disorder screening and counseling to women of childbearing age, and that women planning to get pregnant stop drinking alcohol.

Read the full report here.

In the News

National Alliance for Model State Drug Laws updates reports on marijuana legislation
The National Alliance for Model State Drug Laws (NAMSDL) has updated its series of reports on medicinal, legal, and illegal marijuana legislation for 2016. The reports summarize ongoing and future efforts to regulate both the medical marijuana and legal marijuana industries at the State level. Two reports for 2016 are available: one summarizing follow-up legislation in States that have legalized the personal usage of marijuana (Alaska, Colorado, District of Columbia, and Oregon), and one summarizing legislation decriminalizing or lowering penalties for illicit, personal non-medical use. Reports on medicinal and personal marijuana legislation in 2016 are forthcoming.

Read the follow-up legislation report here.

Read the decriminalization report here.

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.