Substance Abuse/Drugs

Reaching out to DC for Q1 check in call to introduce new COSSUP elements (TA coaches,SLE team strucutre). Will also be discussing the needs assessment that will be implemented for each grant. Met with Dr. Tolliver 3/7. Discussed activities to date, including turn around time for lab tests is at 98% for a 90-day return period. NMS labs has been helpful to meet this timing. New LIMS is up and running officially. Site is reaching out to BJA to clarify costs and spend down ideas for grant money that was initially meant for staff positions (which were not hired).

Reaching out to ME for Q1 check in call to introduce new COSSUP elements (TA coaches,SLE team structure). Will also be discussing the needs assessment that will be implemented for each grant. Call scheduling in progress.Meeting with site contacts 3/19.

Reaching out to PA for Q1 check in call to introduce new COSSUP elements (TA coaches,SLE team structure). Will also be discussing the needs assessment that will be implemented for each grant. Call scheduled for 3/13.

Reaching out to MS for Q1 check in call to introduce new COSSUP elements (TA coaches,SLE team structure). Will also be discussing the needs assessment that will be implemented for each grant. Call scheduling in progress.

Dr. Lori Post was contacted by Cassie Sun, Communications Intern with the Institute for Public Health and Medicine at Northwestern University. She was asked questions regarding geographic trends in opioid-involved overdose deaths (OODs), such as causes of higher rates of OODs in urban counties while acceleration rates remained higher in rural counties, the importance of studying geographic trends of OOD, and how the study results contribute to prevention and mitigation efforts. Dr. Post's responses were included in an article titled "What is the Opioid Epidemic?

Dr. Lori Post was contacted by Jacob Sanders, a communications associate at WalletHub.com, with questions for an article about Drug Use by State (2024) for their consumer education section. She provided answers to his questions regarding effective measures that can be taken to address the drug crisis, overprescribing of pain medications, what family/friends can do if they suspect someone has a drug problem, and steps officials can take to improve access to treatment. She provided information in tables, figures, and trendlines as well.

Met with main contact for Q1 check-in to discuss progress, challenges, and plans for sustainability on 3/5. For the most part everything is going well. However, the most rural county is experiencing difficulty with retaining participants. This may pose an issue for spending down funds prior to end of grant.

Event ID #   15703
WUNRN-Women's UN Report Network
Opioids, Substance Abuse Disorders, Are a Threat to Human Rights
Tuesday, March 19 – 2:30 pm
Dr. Lori Post was the moderator of the session and presented the BJA project-using data to combat drug overdoses and explained the drug data center we are developing. Dr. Jay Unick presented on community-based treatment, and Dr. Maryann Mason presented on additional barriers that women face.

Meet with Bimaadiziwin “Good Life” Case Management Program Staff to Discuss Findings from the Culturally Responsive Approaches to Case Management and Intervention for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders Training held on April 16, 2024 and discuss future COSSUP program plans. This will also include select meetings with shelter, behavioral health, and substance use treatment staff.

The Center has provided financial support to invite a subject matter expert Dr. Stuart Wasser to present at the PA Association of Treatment Court Professionals 2023 Conference that took place October 11-13, 2023. Dr. Wasser delivered a presentation titled "The MOUD Prescriber Perspective: Facilitators and Barriers to Induction". This session provided a brief overview of the major medications commonly used in the treatment of opioid use disorder. The efficacy of MAT and current best practices were discussed.