Products and Resources - SAMHSA Reporting

The use of electronic vaporizing devices (“vaping”) has skyrocketed in popularity since their widespread introduction across the United States. Through these devices, consumers inhale an aerosolized liquid compound, most commonly liquid nicotine or cannabis-derived chemicals (both CBD and THC). Risks stemming from vaping present an important public health challenge, particularly for youth, but also among adults. While significant research gaps remain, a growing number of evidence-based practices are available to behavioral health practitioners.  

There are thousands of people in recovery from addiction unaware of their civil rights under the ADA. The ADA insures that people with addiction to alcohol, and in recovery from opioids and other drugs have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. Find out how the ADA addresses alcohol and substance use disorders differently. This session will also introduce how the ADA applies to addiction in three phases of employment: pre-offer, post-offer, and employment. These differences will be illustrated with scenarios about alcohol, opioids, cocaine, and marijuana. Learning Objectives: Understand the ADA’s definition of disability and how it applies to addiction and recovery. Distinguish how the ADA applies to people with addiction to alcohol and those in recovery from opioids and other drugs. Learn which protections the ADA provides in access to employment, state and local government services, and places of public accommodations. Who is encouraged to attend? Clinicians, providers, administrators, and leadership are highly encouraged to participate to learn more about ADA protection rights.   Additional Resources ADA Webinar Handouts   Presenter: Oce Harrison, Ed.D. Dr. Harrison is the Project Director at the New England ADA and has directed the New England ADA Center since 2001. Dr. Harrison provides ADA, Addiction and Recovery trainings throughout New England.  She has presented at SAMHSA’s New England Addiction Training and Technology Center; the National Association for Addiction Counselors (NAADAC) 2019 annual Conference; Massachusetts Organization for Addiction and Recovery (MOAR); and in 25 city and town meetings in Massachusetts on behalf of family support chapters of Learn to Cope. She led the ADA National Networks’ ADA, Addiction and Recovery Committee which has produced a fact sheet series on how the ADA addresses addiction and recovery. Dr. Harrison is known for her initiation, follow-through skills and congeniality. Before coming to the New England ADA Center, Dr. Harrison worked with organizations such as: the Boston Self Help Center, Mass General Hospital’s Burn Unit, Perkins School for the Blind, Casa Esperanza, and the Institute for Community Inclusion at Children’s Hospital. She earned her doctorate at Boston University’s School of Education in 1994. Oce is a person living with a disability.

Due to the length of the articles written by our authors, the March 2023 Dialogue newsletter was split into two parts. Part 1 was published March 7 and Part 2 was published March 14. Part 1 of the March newsletter contains articles: Addiction: Celebrating Women and their Contributions to Medicine | Prevention: From Claw Machines to Video Gaming to Sports Betting, Is it Possible to Eliminate Gambling Activities from Youth? | ORN: Adolescent Health. Additional sections include behavioral health observances, virtual training and webinar events, Region 3 news, and new resources. The Dialogue is designed to inform behavioral and mental health professionals of news and upcoming events in the HHS Region 3/Central East region. This electronic newsletter is disseminated bi-monthly on the first Tuesday. You are encouraged to provide us with any feedback or submit articles and topics for discussion in future issues of the newsletter, [email protected].   Sign up to receive the Dialogue and our weekly training bulletin in your mailbox.   Visit the Dialogue Archives.

Due to the length of the articles written by our authors, the March 2023 Dialogue newsletter was split into two parts. Part 1 was published March 7 and Part 2 was published March 14. Part 2 of the March newsletter contains articles: MHTTC: Celebrating Women in Medicine | Regional Spotlight: Sean's House. Additional sections include behavioral health observances and virtual training and webinar events. The Dialogue is designed to inform behavioral and mental health professionals of news and upcoming events in the HHS Region 3/Central East region. This electronic newsletter is disseminated bi-monthly on the first Tuesday. You are encouraged to provide us with any feedback or submit articles and topics for discussion in future issues of the newsletter, [email protected].   Sign up to receive the Dialogue and our weekly training bulletin in your mailbox.   Visit the Dialogue Archives.

This live interactive training through professional development plan assignments, combined with “Clinical Supervision Foundations I” training, met the 30-hour Clinical Supervision training requirement for the Advanced Counselor and Master Counselor status, as referenced in the OASAS Substance Use Disorder Scope of Practice. This training recognizes the crucial role that Clinical Supervision holds as the cornerstone of performance improvement at both the program and client level. Clinical Supervision, when properly implemented by competent Clinical Supervisors, improves client care, develops clinical skills, and improves the knowledge and professionalism of clinical personnel. It is also paramount in imparting and maintaining ethical standards in the addiction profession.

This live interactive training through professional development plan assignments, combined with “Clinical Supervision Foundations I” training, met the 30-hour Clinical Supervision training requirement for the Advanced Counselor and Master Counselor status, as referenced in the OASAS Substance Use Disorder Scope of Practice. This training recognizes the crucial role that Clinical Supervision holds as the cornerstone of performance improvement at both the program and client level. Clinical Supervision, when properly implemented by competent Clinical Supervisors, improves client care, develops clinical skills, and improves the knowledge and professionalism of clinical personnel. It is also paramount in imparting and maintaining ethical standards in the addiction profession.

This live interactive training through professional development plan assignments, combined with “Clinical Supervision Foundations I” training, met the 30-hour Clinical Supervision training requirement for the Advanced Counselor and Master Counselor status, as referenced in the OASAS Substance Use Disorder Scope of Practice. This training recognizes the crucial role that Clinical Supervision holds as the cornerstone of performance improvement at both the program and client level. Clinical Supervision, when properly implemented by competent Clinical Supervisors, improves client care, develops clinical skills, and improves the knowledge and professionalism of clinical personnel. It is also paramount in imparting and maintaining ethical standards in the addiction profession.

A toolkit for behavioral health prevention and treatment providers, recovery community organizations, and individuals in recovery with practical information and tools to enhance their capacity to engage in effective stigma reduction efforts. This guide provides practical information about a variety of approaches to prevent and mitigate behavioral health-related stigma. Some approaches are straightforward and can be initiated by individuals on their own. These approaches include tips on using stigma-free, positive person-first language and writing letters to the editor. Some approaches are comprehensive, such as developing a community action group and implementing a community-based messaging and media campaign. The revision of this toolkit was made in collaboration with the Central East MHTTC and the Central East PTTC.

The intent of this course is to serve as a bridge to intensive technical assistance for healthcare organizations seeking to implement contingency management (CM) programming in their setting. The course offers coordinated instruction and resources specific to administrative assistants (those in nonclinical roles who support client care through administrative tasks such as answering phones, scheduling appointments, and managing a waiting room). This course includes an introduction to CM describing its core elements, scientifically-supported systems, and how it can be used in healthcare settings to have a positive impact on clients. It also offers unique content on how personnel in the Administrative role can contribute to the successful integration of CM into the clinical services their organization offers. For organizations utilizing this course, a strongly recommended initial step is for those in leadership roles to complete the decision-maker course module, including its activity for drafting CM programming customized to the settings needs and resources. Once leaders have formulated and discussed these initial ideas about CM programming, the content of course modules for Clinical Supervisors and Direct Care Staff are likely to be more useful to those staffing groups. Given the complexities of implementing a systems-level practice like CM, organizations are urged to additionally seek out consultation and coaching as intensive technical assistance via a Technology Transfer Center in their region. Also available: Decision Maker, Clinical Supervisor, and Direct Support Staff courses. 1 hour Continued Education Available, NAADAC

Peer Supervision is a collaborative activity between a supervisor and a worker in which the supervisor provides guidance and support to the worker to promote competent and ethical delivery of services. Supervision also supports the continued development of the worker’s application of accepted professional peer work knowledge, skills and values. Supervision should be a priority for early-career peer workers and is an investment that benefits employees, employers and service recipients. It is important that supervision is accessible and happens (SAMHSA, BRSS-TACS, 2022).   This 2-part webinar series is based on the Peer Supervision Curriculum originally designed in 2018 to support individuals supervising Peer Recovery Support staff in the Commonwealth of Kentucky as one of their initial projects under the State Targeted Response funding from SAMHSA. In 2020, the curriculum was adapted by the Southeast Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) to expand the language in way that can be used for any state or ATTC Region and included an overall update as well as new content focused on telehealth, recovery planning, diversity, equity and inclusion.  

The shifting landscape of regulations related to telehealth can make it difficult for practitioners to keep up with this important area. This document gives a brief overview of national and regional telehealth trends for behavioral health services, with a focus on Health and Human Services (HHS) Region 6 which includes Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Current laws and administrative codes for behavioral health treatment that use telehealth to deliver services were examined to prepare this document.  

The purpose of the listening sessions was to gather information from family members and loved ones of people with substance use challenges to better understand family members’ experiences supporting and seeking support for their loved one who is using substances; to ask what questions family members have about supporting their loved one who is using substances; to ask who or what is providing support for family members; and the unmet needs for support for family members. This report describes the process and findings of the first phase of this consultation process: listening sessions with family members and loved ones of people who use substances. This project is in collaboration with the African American Behavioral Health Center of Excellence and National Hispanic and Latino ATTC.

The New England ATTC in partnership with the New England Association of Recovery Court Professionals recently hosted a webinar titled, "Data-Based Insights on Cannabis Use Disorder Treatment, Recovery, and Implications for Recovery Courts" Dr. Michael J. Sofis reviewed recent findings from the Cannabis Public Policy Consulting’s Regulatory Determinants of Cannabis Outcomes Survey (RDCOS) from 25 adult use, medical-only, and illegal/low-THC states on the prevalence of cannabis use harms like cannabis use disorder (CUD), driving under the influence of cannabis. (DUIC), and youth cannabis use. He highlighted promising up-and-coming treatment and prevention approaches designed to help prevent cannabis harms and contextualize how such approaches will impact recovery courts.  View the slides from the Data-Based Insights on Cannabis Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Implications for Recovery Courts by clicking on the view resource button above. 

The New England ATTC in partnership with the New England Association of Recovery Court Professionals recently hosted a webinar titled, "Data-Based Insights on Cannabis Use Disorder Treatment, Recovery, and Implications for Recovery Courts" Dr. Michael J. Sofis reviewed recent findings from the Cannabis Public Policy Consulting’s Regulatory Determinants of Cannabis Outcomes Survey (RDCOS) from 25 adult use, medical-only, and illegal/low-THC states on the prevalence of cannabis use harms like cannabis use disorder (CUD), driving under the influence of cannabis. (DUIC), and youth cannabis use. He highlighted promising up-and-coming treatment and prevention approaches designed to help prevent cannabis harms and contextualize how such approaches will impact recovery courts.  View the recording from the Data-Based Insights on Cannabis Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Implications for Recovery Courts by clicking on the view resource button above. 

Recording: Black History Month Panel Presentation Featuring 2023 Hall of Fame Recipients of The Museum of African American Addictions, Treatment, and Recovery   DESCRIPTION: Join the Great Lakes ATTC and the 2023 Hall of Fame recipients of the Online Museum of African American Addictions, Treatment and Recovery for a panel discussion about substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, culturally appropriate service delivery, and recovery in African American communities. The panelists will share their expertise and years of experience on these topics with an emphasis on defining recovery in African American communities, understanding culturally specific approaches to working with African Americans with SUDs, practicing effective cross-cultural counseling, and learning how the entire African American community can serve as a recovery community.     LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Participants will learn: How to anchor recovery in African American communities A working definition of recovery in African American communities Culturally specific approaches to working with African Americans with SUDs How to build rapport with African American clients in a cross-cultural counseling relationship     PANELISTS:  

In recent years, there has been growing support for a harm reduction approach to drug policy, which emphasizes reducing some of the negative consequences associated with drug use through a variety of public health measures. Historically, this approach has been a core value of syringe service programs, expanding into other settings particularly as rising overdose deaths have made educating people about overdose risks and distributing naloxone more urgent. This two-part workshop will explore how harm reduction is evolving, different interpretations of what harm reduction is (or isn’t), and ways to build bridges between harm reduction services and the continuum of care for people who use drugs. Discussion topics will include how harm reduction providers are offering or connecting participants to various types of treatment, broadly defined, and how treatment providers are incorporating harm reduction strategies into their services.

In recent years, there has been growing support for a harm reduction approach to drug policy, which emphasizes reducing some of the negative consequences associated with drug use through a variety of public health measures. Historically, this approach has been a core value of syringe service programs, expanding into other settings particularly as rising overdose deaths have made educating people about overdose risks and distributing naloxone more urgent. This two-part workshop will explore how harm reduction is evolving, different interpretations of what harm reduction is (or isn’t), and ways to build bridges between harm reduction services and the continuum of care for people who use drugs. Discussion topics will include how harm reduction providers are offering or connecting participants to various types of treatment, broadly defined, and how treatment providers are incorporating harm reduction strategies into their services.

Join us for this 90-minute interactive webinar that will explore issues related to grief, loss, and trauma that often affects our patients (relatives) while in treatment. This event took place on February 15, 2023.

Presenter: Lisa A. Marsch, PhD (Dartmouth Center for Technology and Behavioral Health) Digital therapeutics–software used to prevent, treat, or manage a medical disorder or disease–are redefining the future of healthcare. Digital therapeutics package an entire model of care that can be delivered with fidelity and in accordance with state-of-the-science best practices into a unified, seamless digital delivery system. Digital therapeutics have been particularly transformative in the field of substance use, mental health, and other behavioral health conditions and can markedly improve access to care, quality of care, and treatment outcomes, while reducing costs, for a wide array of audiences in diverse settings. In this presentation, Dr. Lisa A. Marsch (Dartmouth Center for Technology and Behavioral Health) will review the state of the science of digital therapeutics for behavioral health and timely opportunities to scale up access to these digital health tools via multiple paths to deployment around the world. Sponsored by the Northwest and Pacific Southwest ATTCs and the Western States Node of the NIDA Clinical Trials Network.  Download slides | Watch recording

SAMHSA has included Trauma-Informed Care among its designated best practices for many reasons. Trauma-Informed Care can bring about, not just change, but an actual transformation that takes place on many levels of an organization. This ongoing system-wide approach that is grounded in a scientific understanding of trauma can make service relationships much safer for both clients and staff, not only in SUD treatment facilities, but in all mental health settings. This easy-to-use and adaptable guide is designed to lead TTC consultants through the Trauma-Informed Care implementation process.

The 2023 Leadership Institute presented by the Mid-America Addition Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) is open to persons who work in behavioral health, mental health, or recovery agencies in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. Candidates must complete the Candidate Application Form and be nominated by leadership within their agency using the Agency Nomination Form. Both forms must be submitted no later than March 15, 2023. For more information on the Leadership Institute, please download the forms by clicking the "DOWNLOAD" button above.

Talking To Change: A Motivational Interviewing Podcast, hosted by Glenn Hinds and Sebastian Kaplan, is a series of conversations exploring Motivational Interviewing (MI) and its influence on supporting individuals and groups as they make positive health and lifestyle changes. Talking to Change: An MI Podcast. Episode 62: Transtheoretical Model Stages of Change & MI with Mary Marden Velasquez, PhD In this episode, hosts Glenn and Sebastian talk to Mary Marden Velasquez, PhD, an internationally recognized trainer in the Transtheoretical Model and MINT member, about the transtheoretical model stages of change. Topics covered include the 10 Processes of Change, the stages of change and how they relate to MI, decisional balance and self-efficacy, temptation, and what it’s like spending time with “giants” in the field.  

Current statistics note 108,174 overdoses occurred in the previous 12 months ending in April 2022. Stimulants, fentanyl, and a newly identified compound called Xylazine are having an impact on the high rates of overdoses. Appropriately, funding is targeting organizational and practice specific opportunities to provide prevention and treatment for people with struggling with opioid used disorder. In the interim, how do we respond to the emotional and psychological toll the overdose of a client or resident has on professional caregivers and other peers? What are the best ways to support both staff and clients? This interactive session reviews some of the issues that arise when residents in recovery environments experience and don’t survive a recurrence or relapse. Content review the behavioral, physical, and psychological responses to grief, self-care options, and coping strategies. Discussion also reviews emerging data on Xylazine and overdose postvention activities that can help support healing and recovery after an overdose loss.

Behavioral health and healthcare settings offer a spectrum of programs including substance use, mental health, and medical and recovery services. Professionals providing these supports use an array of competencies to empathize and assist persons with substance use and other psychosocial problems. Always focused on helping others, professionals can experience challenges in practicing self-care for themselves. This interactive workshop provides an opportunity for providers to review wellness practices and experience the benefits of intentional, micro-structured, self-care interventions.