Research

State Collaborative Activities Grant: Under this SAMHSA/CSAT grant to NASADAD, NASADAD engaged in projects that fostered the SAMHSA data strategy, supported the SAPT Block Grant Program, and continued work on HIPAA codes for substance abuse treatment. A wide range of NASADAD and SAMHSA/CSAT projects and initiatives were supported by this grant, which was also referred to as the Single Source Grant Award (SSGA). The SAMHSA/CSAT Division for State and Community Assistance oversaw these activities.

Co-Occurring Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders (V): NASADAD and the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) engaged in collaborative efforts under previous awards from SAMHSA to improve services to this shared treatment population. Reports resulting from these efforts can be viewed in the “NASADAD Reports” page by following the link on the left. The continuation of this effort represented in “Co-Occurring V” fosters collaboration between the mental health and substance abuse systems in the areas of infrastructure development, systems improvement planning, consistent screening and assessment approaches, and the use of performance management for improved outcomes. In this initiative, a special focus on the homeless is maintained.

Data Analysis of the Integrated Database and Technical Assistance to States: As a subcontractor to SAMHSA contractor Medstat, NASADAD provides assistance in the form of in-depth knowledge and understanding of State systems, and facilitates communication between the contrator and its members on initiatives that seek to optimize the sharing of data between and among State agencies with a shared client based (Medicare, Mental Health and Substance Abuse).

National Center for Child Welfare and Substance Abuse: NASADAD is a Consortium member of the National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare (NCSACW) Program funded by CSAT and works under contract with Children and Family Futures along with other Consortium members: APHSA, CWLA, NCJFCJ, and NICWA. The purpose of this effort is to implement a comprehensive program of information dissemination, knowledge application and technical assistance strategies to promote organizational and systems change at the National, State and local levels. The primary focus of program activities is system collaboration among State AOD and Child Welfare agencies and the Dependency Courts.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)/NASADAD Issue Briefs: NASADAD worked with NIAAA to develop four State Issue Briefs. These briefs focus on current alcohol research from the NIAAA research portfolio and discuss implications for State AOD Systems. Selected topics of interest to both federal NIAAA representatives and State AOD Directors are 1) current alcohol research in the use of medications as an adjunct to alcohol treatment, 2) alcohol research on screening and brief interventions 3) alcohol research on prenatal alcohol exposure and prevention, and current alcohol research on alcohol policy.

State Issue Brief on Alcohol Policy (9/06)

State Issue Brief on Screening and Brief Intervention (8/06)

State Issue Brief: Current Alcohol Research in the Use of Medications as an Adjunct to Alcohol Treatment and Implications for State Alcohol Treatment Systems (12/01)
Abstract: Reviews current research comparing treatment programs that incorporate the use of medication as an adjunct to treatment with treatment outcomes. Several medications have been introduced to the treatment field that reduce alcohol consumption by interfering with the euphoric feeling alcohol induces (naltrexone, nalmefene, and acamprosate). This brief provides State AOD Agency Directors with information that may facilitate decisions around the use of such medications in the publicly funded treatment system. The brief concludes that using these medications as an adjunct to treatment may improve treatment outcomes.

National Institute on Drug Abuse Issue Briefs: NASADAD worked with NIDA to develop two State Issue Briefs. These briefs focus on current research on drug addiction and treatment from the NIDA portfolio and discuss implications for State AOD Systems. One topic of interest to both federal NIDA representatives and State AOD Directors is current research on the use of buprenorphine to treat opioid addiction and its impact on State AOD Treatment Systems and Opioid Treatment Programs.

Issue Brief on Buprenorphine (6/06)

HIPAA – Health Insurance Portability Technical Assistance Subcontract: In addition to the work under the SSGA Grant to identify needed service codes to meet HIPAA requirements and to identify issues and concerns regarding HIPAA and State AOD Agencies, NASADAD developed a Working Definitions Guide for the HCPCS Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Procedure and Modifier Codes. This guide provides basic definitions that can be associated with these codes so that professionals may have a higher degree of precision in communicating about services.

Substance Abuse HCPCS Code User’s Guide Unofficial Standard Definitions (11/07)