Recognition and Treatment of Adolescent Substance Abuse: Who are the Substance Abusers?

There is a serious threat to the health and well being of America today: the threat of substance abuse. It affects everyone on some level: the friend’s child who is always in trouble with the law, the family member whose activities are kept secret, or the work colleague who habitually calls in sick. For many, the abuser lives in their own home. The problem of abuse is not discriminating; it can even start in early adolescence. When the individual who is using is an adolescent, it affects their parents, peers, school, and community. In a study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) (1999), 50% of twelfth graders have tried drugs and one in four are current users

Integration of the Audio-Visual Moylan Assessment of Progressive Aggression Tool (MAPAT) in a USA State Wide Training Program of Mental Health Workers

Aggressive and violent behavior toward health care workers in psychiatric hospital settings is a long recognized occupational hazard with significant psychological, physical and economic costs (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Hunter. Carmel 1992). Numerous professional publications highlight the problem and emphasize the need for formalized staff training (one of many clinical and occupational approaches) to reduce the risk of violence and the related rate and severity of staff injuries (Infantino and Musingo 1985; Lehman, Medilla and Clark1983, Carmel and Hunter 1990, American Psychiatric Association Task Force on Clinician Safety (Task Force Report 33, Beech and Leather 2006). Training programs are widely used and options include private (e.g. Non-violent Crisis Intervention, Crisis Prevention Institute) and public sector developed (States of NY, CT, et al) programs. In the United States, staff that work in psychiatric hospital settings, where restraints and seclusion are used, must meet the training requirements set forth by regulatory and accrediting bodies [Center for Medicare/Medicaid Services CFR Part 482 (CMS), The Joint Commission (TJC)]. Hospital policies and state laws (e.g., Connecticut General Statute 814e, Sec 46-154) typically include training requirements. The requirements include who should be trained (direct care staff that work in settings where restraints and seclusion are used), at what intervals (orientation and subsequent periodic reviews) and what the content must include. Competence in the theoretical knowledge as well as physical skill knowledge are commonly used measures

How are the Children: Challenges and Opportunities in Improving Children\u27s Mental Health

The mental health of children is critical to their growth and development, but when their well-being is considered, discussions more often gravitate toward physical health, nutrition, education, parental influences, and living conditions. While these all represent important indicators of well-being, discussions also need to consider the importance of children’s mental and behavioral health. In this brief we explore the status of Southern Nevada’s children as it relates to mental health outcomes. Like physical health, good mental health is paramount to children’s overall functioning and maturation. Frequently when a child experiences mental and behavioral health challenges, signs and symptoms manifest in the home, community, and school. Using a secondary analysis of multiple primary datasets, including the National Survey of Children’s Health; Mental Illness Surveillance among Children in the United States; and the Mental Health National Outcome Measure, we analyze the mental health status of children in Southern Nevada. In doing so we provide an overview of services, access, and the implications of the Affordable Care Act. Outcomes are considered in relation to peer states as well as national indicators. This brief provides implications for strengthening the overall mental health service infrastructure, service delivery, and community capacity so that children will experience optimal mental health outcomes

Therapeutic Gardening For Addiction Recovery

Problem: The use of evidence-based alternative forms of therapy like horticulture therapy and therapeutic gardening is underutilized in substance use recovery programs in the United States. As the country continues to struggle with addiction, it is important that recovery programs look to and incorporate these alternative therapies into official curricula. Currently, 46.3 million individuals living in the United States are living with a substance use disorder (U.S Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2022). Context: The intervention was implemented at an all-male substance use treatment facility in San Jose, CA that houses up to thirty-two participants at any given time. Participants typically have some sort of history with the criminal justice system and are often ordered into treatment at this facility, although participation is completely voluntary. Interventions: After conducting a review of research, it was found that gardening has had beneficial and therapeutic effects on at-risk populations including veterans, the incarcerated, those living with mental health illnesses, and those living with substance use disorders (SUD). The intervention consisted of a therapeutic gardening project at a substance use recovery center in San Jose, California. Measures: Measures for this project are qualitative in nature and were captured via interviews and surveys developed and provided by the University of San Francisco nursing students implementing the project. Results: Many of the participants that were engaged in the gardening integration at this in-patient substance use treatment center reported that they enjoyed the experience and felt that it positively benefited them; this was obtained through surveys, interviews, and ethnographic observations from the University of San Francisco (USF) students. Conclusions: Results from this project fall in line with current research regarding the use of therapeutic gardening and support the use of this intervention in substance use disorder programming

Medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder

"The opioid overdose epidemic continues to claim lives across the country with a record 47,600 overdose deaths in 2017. (This number represents 67.8% of the 70,237 overdose deaths from all drugs) [CDC 2018a]. More Americans now die every year from drug overdoses than in motor vehicle crashes [CDC 2016]. The crisis is taking an especially devastating toll on certain parts of the U.S. workforce. High rates of opioid overdose deaths have occurred in industries with high injury rates and physically demanding working conditions such as construction, mining, or fishing [Massachusetts Department of Public Health 2018; CDC 2018b]. Certain job factors such as high job demands, job insecurity, and lack of control over tasks have also been linked to opioid use [Kowalski-McGraw et al. 2017]. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) (also known as medicationbased treatment*) has been shown to be effective for many people with opioid use disorder [SAMHSA 2015b; National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 2019]. In addition to providing general information about MAT, this document provides information for employers wishing to assist or support workers with opioid use disorder." - NIOSHTIC-2NIOSH no. 20055929Suggested citation: NIOSH [2019]. Medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. By Howard J, Cimineri L, Evans T, Chosewood LC, Afanuh S. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2019-133, https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHPUB2019133201910.26616/NIOSHPUB2019133659

A state mental health system in crisis : recommendations to reduce the forensic mental health population in Texas

textThe number of forensic psychiatric commitments has drastically increased over the last decade, now surpassing civil commitments in Texas. This uptick is a result in part of two main policy shifts during the middle of the 20th century: deinstitutionalization and over incarceration fueled primarily by the War on Drugs. Although the Community Mental Health Centers Act of 1963 was meant to replace inpatient services, few centers are adequately funded. As highlighted in the news, the combined effect is illustrated in the numbers: 1 million individuals with serious mental health disorders are booked into local jails each year and half of all incarcerated individuals are experiencing a mental health problem of some kind. To address this growing population and to prevent individuals who are criminally court-ordered to receive mental health treatment from lingering in jail for unconstitutional lengths of time, many states including Texas have been forced to find or create new forensic beds, sometimes even building new facilities. This demand for forensic beds has created opportunities for private prison companies to expand into mental health. GEO Group, one of the largest prison corporations in the world, already owns or operates five psychiatric facilities in the U.S., including one in Montgomery County, Texas, before it was acquired by Correct Care Solutions. Much like in the private prison industry, for-profit private corporations have an incentive to continue to grow the forensic psychiatric population, which contradicts best practices regarding treatment for individuals with mental illness taking place in the least restrictive environment. In order to prevent opportunities where states rely on private prison corporations because of cost savings promises, research and advocacy regarding alternatives for states attempting to curb a growing forensic psychiatric population are needed.Public AffairsSocial Wor

The Impact of Telemedicine Availability on Fatal Opioid Overdose Rates in Texas, 2020

AbstractSubstance use disorders (SUDs) and fatal overdoses are a significant problem in the United States. A viable and effective method for treating SUDs is through telemedicine (tele-SUD) visits. Tele-SUD visits are an effective means of meeting with patients virtually, especially in the post-COVID-19 environment; however, a problem in health care exists concerning the availability of tele-SUD services in middle America. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of tele-SUD availability on rates of opioid overdose deaths in the state of Texas. Donabedian’s model of health care quality evaluation was used as the theoretical framework. A quantitative, independent samples, t-test analysis was used to investigate the relationship between telemedicine services and opioid overdose deaths in 254 counties in Texas in 2020. A regression analysis was conducted to determine if the amount of telemedicine availability per capita made a difference in fatal overdoses in each county of Texas. Data were collected from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the University of Wisconsin’s County Health Rankings and Roadmaps. The independent variable was availability of tele-SUD, and the dependent variable was rates of countywide opioid overdose deaths in 2020. The results of the analysis revealed no statistically significant connection between the presence of telemedicine in a given county and its opioid overdose death rate. Findings from this study may be used for positive social change by tele-SUD administrators in designing their programs

Eliminating Mental and Physical Health Disparities Through Culturally and Linguistically Centered Integrated Healthcare

Since the U.S. Surgeon General’s report on mental health (1999) declared mind and body to be inseparable, integrated healthcare, bringing the body and mind back together, has been gaining significant momentum across the nation as a preferred approach to care for people with co-morbid physical health and mental health conditions. Primary care settings often are the gateway to healthcare for racial and ethnic minority populations and individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) and, as such, it has become the portal for identifying undiagnosed or untreated behavioral health disorders. An integrated holistic philosophical approach to behavioral healthcare provides an opportunity to address mental and physical health disparities and achieve health equity through a culturally and linguistically centered integrated healthcare delivery model that by definition must be person-centered, family-centered, and community-centered

2016-2018 Retrospective Chart Review:Patients with Substance Use Disorder and Endocarditis

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How to Save a Life: Administering Naloxone 101

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data indicates 115 Americans die each day from an opioid overdose. Further, the CDC states that from 1999-2016, more than 350,000 Americans have died from an overdose involving any opioid, including prescription and illicit opioids. As alarming as these numbers are, they would likely be 2-3 times higher except for a simple and safe intervention that can be administered by anyone who has some basic knowledge and a brief training. This session will show you how it is possible to effectively recognize and respond to an opioid overdose and successfully administer naloxone, the opioid overdose antidote. Distributing naloxone to laypersons has resulted in thousands of overdose reversals and many saved lives. This webinar will provide a live demonstration of how to administer naloxone, and discuss where you can acquire this life-saving drug . Learning Objectives: Recognize the signs of an opioid overdose Learn the 5 simple steps that can help save a life – including how to administer Naloxone Learn what Naloxone is, how it works and where you can get it Understand the Good Samaritan laws that protect you as it it pertains to administering Naloxon