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Bringing DC healthcare providers the latest news, events, and resources to improve care for patients with substance use disorders and chronic pain management.

September 2024

Dear DACS Provider,

September is National Recovery Month, an opportunity to increase understanding of substance use disorders (SUDs), reduce stigma attached to SUDs, and educate the public on prevention, treatment and recovery. It is also a time to celebrate the recovery community and highlight new evidence-based treatment and recovery approaches for SUDs. A SAMHSA report found that 72.2% (or 20.9 million) of adults who felt they ever had a substance use problem considered themselves to be in recovery or to have recovered from their drug or alcohol use challenges. Recovery is associated with improvements in quality of life and decreases in psychological distress, indicating that recovery is possible with effective treatment. Individuals with SUD, and their lives, often improve over time during recovery.

As part of National Recovery Month, National Addiction Professionals Day is held on September 20th. It is a day to acknowledge the dedication of addiction professionals and their role in guiding individuals through recovery. These health professionals provide prevention, treatment and recovery management services while working to create a healthier future for everyone affected by SUD.

Healthcare providers can reach out to DACS and join our upcoming webinars to learn how to expand their capacity for SUD care in clinical practice. Explore this newsletter and the tools available on the DACS website for additional resources on SUD treatment and recovery.

Sincerely,

The DACS Team

Education

Upcoming Trainings of Interest

National Council for Mental Wellbeing and National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers

Mastering the Art of Recovery - From Lived Experience to Professional Impact

Tuesday, September 10 | 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Grayken Center for Addiction Training & TA

Extended-Release Buprenorphine Treatments for Opioid Use Disorder

Tuesday, September 17 | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

This cohort study examined the role of recovery peer navigators (RPNs) in patient retention in clinical care at a low-barrier outpatient program serving a majority racial and ethnic minority population. Results demonstrated that RPNs improved retention in opioid use disorder care across all racial and ethnic groups and for socioeconomically vulnerable patients.

Integrated Behavioral Interventions for Adults with Alcohol Use Disorder: A Systematic Review

This systematic review examined evidence from randomized controlled trials on the effects of integrated behavioral interventions for adults with alcohol use disorder (AUD). While integrated behavioral interventions reduced alcohol consumption and promoted alcohol abstinence, more research is needed to determine whether these interventions are more effective than usual care for individuals with AUD.

Extended-Release 7-Day Injectable Buprenorphine for Patients with Minimal to Mild Opioid Withdrawal

A nonrandomized trial evaluated the feasibility of 7-day injectable extended-release buprenorphine in patients with minimal to mild opioid withdrawal. The extended-release buprenorphine injectable was found to be acceptable and safe in patients with minimal to mild opioid withdrawal, suggesting that this medication formulation has the potential to substantially increase the number of patients with opioid use disorder receiving treatment.

Alcohol Consumption Patterns and Mortality Among Older Adults with Health-Related or Socioeconomic Risk Factors

A prospective cohort study used data from the UK Biobank to examine the relationship between alcohol consumption patterns, mortality, and health-related and socioeconomic risk factors among older adults. Drinking, even low-risk drinking, was associated with higher mortality among older adults with health-related or socioeconomic risk factors although some drinking behaviors attenuated the association.

Holidays and Observances

Holidays

DACS Phone Line Will Be Closed

October 14th - Indigenous Peoples' Day

September Observances

National Recovery Month

Pain Awareness Month

National Suicide Prevention Month

National Clinical Nurse Specialist Recognition Week

September 1 - 7

International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Awareness Day

September 9

Telehealth Awareness Week

September 15 - 21

National Addiction Professionals Day

September 20

International Recovery Day

September 30

Relevant Resources

National Recovery Month Toolkit

Resource Guide: Best Practices for Effective Adolescent Substance Use Disorder Services

Free Naloxone

Throughout the District, naloxone nasal spray is available without a prescription at 42 participating pharmacies and community-based organizations. To obtain naloxone, anyone may stop in at a participating pharmacy and present ID to receive a free naloxone kit.

Options to find participating pharmacies:

Visit https://dchealth.dc.gov/NarcanDC
Text ‘LiveLongDC’ to 888-111 to receive a map of free-Narcan locations

Naloxone refresher training video: https://vimeo.com/507662143

Buprenorphine Drug Assistance Program (BUP-DAP)

Designed to increase access to drugs used primarily in medication-assisted substance misuse treatment (Buprenorphine, Naltrexone, Suboxone, and Naloxone). When presented to participating pharmacies, it can cover medicine costs, co-pays, and pharmacy dispensing fees. Recipients will need to present a government issued photo ID.

Pocket Guides for Safe Opioid Prescribing

Contains a number of resources to providers, including: CDC guidelines for safe opioid prescribing, a Morphine Milligram Equivalent (MME) conversion chart, a checklist for prescribing opioids for chronic pain, medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), and additional resources for providers and patients.

DC Center for Rational Prescribing (DCRx)

This learning portal provides information about medications and other therapeutic options. The DC Department of Health provides non-commercial, independent continuing education courses, free to ALL DC licensed healthcare professionals.

The DC Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (DC PDMP)

The Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) aims to improve the District’s ability to identify and reduce diversion of prescription drugs in an efficient and cost effective manner that will not impede the appropriate medical utilization of controlled substances.

Live.Long.DC

A coordinated multi-stakeholder approach to comprehensively address the opioid epidemic by sharing data, discussing initiatives and best practices, and identifying common approaches. The initiative is led by the DC Department of Behavioral Health with a goal of reducing opioid use, misuse, and opioid-related deaths in DC. For more information about Live.Long.DC strategies and initiatives, visit: https://livelong.dc.gov/

1-866-337-DACS (3227) | www.districtdacs.org | dacs@som.umaryland.edu