{"id":11064,"date":"2015-09-04T15:38:35","date_gmt":"2015-09-04T15:38:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nasadad.org\/?p=11064"},"modified":"2015-09-04T15:38:35","modified_gmt":"2015-09-04T15:38:35","slug":"d-c-update-september-4-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nasadad.org\/2015\/09\/d-c-update-september-4-2015\/","title":{"rendered":"D.C. Update – September 4, 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"
News from NASADAD<\/strong><\/p>\n News from the States<\/strong><\/p>\n Around the Agencies<\/strong><\/p>\n In the News<\/strong><\/p>\n Upcoming Events<\/strong><\/p>\n News from NASADAD<\/strong><\/p>\n Heather Dougherty joins NASADAD\u2019s Research and Program Applications Department Heather can be reached via email at heather@nasadad.org<\/a> or by phone at (202) 293-0090 x4874.<\/p>\n News from the States Interview with Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin highlights substance use disorder treatment success Around the Agencies<\/strong><\/p>\n SAMHSA study finds variations in first-time substance use among college students In the News<\/strong><\/p>\n President Obama proclaims September 2015 as National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month NASADAD encourages members to submit a copy of their State\u2019s recovery month proclamation to Shalini Wickramatilake-Templeman, Public Policy Associate, at swickramatilake@nasadad.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n Upcoming Events<\/strong><\/p>\n SAMHSA announces webinar on campus-based prevention data collection ONDCP announces online event in celebration of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month Please contact Nataki MacMurray at recovery@ondcp.eop.gov<\/a> or (202) 395-5510 with any questions.<\/p>\n Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program announces webinar on incorporating substance use disorder services into Medicaid managed care contracts 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.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" News from NASADAD Heather Dougherty joins NASADAD\u2019s 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 … Continue reading D.C. Update – September 4, 2015<\/span> \n
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\n<\/strong>NASADAD is pleased to announce that Heather Dougherty has been hired to join the Research and Program Applications Department.\u00a0 Heather will serve as liaison to the Women\u2019s Services Network (WSN) and Youth Coordinators Committee, among other duties.\u00a0 Heather previously served as a contractor for the United States Army where she worked as a Drug and Alcohol Prevention Specialist.\u00a0 In this capacity, she worked closely with military and civilian populations located at Fort Dietrich and Walter Reed Naval Hospital.\u00a0 Heather also worked with homeless populations in Connecticut as a member of AmeriCorps.\u00a0 Heather earned her B.S. degree from James Madison University where she majored in Health Science with a Public Health Concentration.\u00a0 Heather earned her Master\u2019s in Public Health at the University of Massachusetts.<\/p>\n
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\n<\/strong>A new interview <\/a>in Governing Magazine with Vermont\u2019s Governor Peter Shumlin highlights the State\u2019s success in fighting substance use disorders by increasing access to medication-assisted treatment. Governor Shumlin invested $6.7 million for a \u201c\u2019hub and spoke\u201d 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 \u201cmedically assisted drug treatment increased by 40 percent, and of those who completed treatment plans 75 percent showed improved functioning.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>A new Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) study <\/a>has found first-time substance use among college-students varies substantially depending on the type of drug being used. Using information from SAMHSA\u2019s 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 \u2013 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.\u00a0 The study concludes with a call for parents and college staff to discuss the risks of substance abuse with college students.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>President Obama announced <\/a>September 2015 as National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. This year\u2019s theme is\u00a0 \u201cJoin the Voices for Recovery: Visible, Vocal, Valuable!\u201d This year\u2019s 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\u2019s pursuit of evidence-based strategies to treat substance use disorders as part of a broader drug control strategy.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency (SAMHSA) has announced a webinar <\/a>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.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>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<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program (IAP) has announced a webinar <\/a>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\u2019s 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 \u201cintegrated physical and behavioral health managed care program,\u201d and Beacon Health Options will provide the health plan perspective of working with States transitioning to managed care models for substance use disorder services.<\/p>\n