Substance Abuse and Addiction Commons^™

Rural Health Action Network Enhanced Outreach Initiative. Year One Final Report, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Karen Pearson Mlis, Ma, Evelyn Ali Bs

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

Healthy Community Coalition (HCC), in coordination with the Rural Health Action Network (RHAN) of greater Franklin County, is implementing a multi-faceted outreach program to improve health outcomes among the rural poor living with chronic conditions in greater Franklin County, Maine.

The goals of the Franklin County Rural Health Action Network Enhanced Outreach Initiative (RHAN-EOI) include:

• Expand access to quality services;
• Expand training for community health extenders;
• Decrease hospital admissions, emergency department use, and costs; and
• Improve communication and care coordination across project partners

This report highlights the implementation and progress of HCC RHAN in Year 1. For more information, please …

Medication Assisted Treatment: Prescription Drug And Opioid Addiction Expansion Project, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Katharine Knight Mph, Mark Richards Bs, Tyler Egeland Ba, Evelyn Ali Bs

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

Greater Portland Health (GPH) in collaboration with Preble Street Resource Center was awarded a Medication Assisted Treatment: Prescription Drug & Opioid Addiction (MOUD-PDOA) grant from SAMHSA. The GPH MOUD-PDOA project will include a mixed-methods evaluation led by Catherine E. Cutler Institute. The evaluation team will build knowledge and provide feedback to inform the implementation and refinement of the GPH MOUD-PDOA Program.

Evaluation Goals:

• Document program strategies and identify barriers and facilitators to implementation
• Examine the efficacy of using a continuum of treatment services to increase access to MOUD among vulnerable populations in underserved communities
• Assess the impact of the intervention …

House: Homeless Opioid User Service Engagement Program. Year 1 Report, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Katharine Knight Mph, Evelyn Ali Bs, Thomas Chalmers Mclaughlin Msw, Phd, Katie Rosingana Ba, Tyler Egeland Ba, Mark Richards Bs, Karen Pearson Mlis, Ma

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

Homelessness and lack of stable housing is often a barrier to achieving stability for individuals who are experiencing homelessness (IWAEH) with an OUD. In order to meet the complex needs of IWAEH with OUD, the Department of Health and Human Services funded a pilot program in 2021, the Homeless Opioid Users Service Engagement (HOUSE) Program; clinicians at Greater Portland Health provide clients with low-barrier Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), while staff at Preble Street provide casework support and rapid housing assistance to individuals who have been identified as being at high risk of overdose, are experiencing homelessness, and are diagnosed with …

R.A.C.E. To Recovery Year 1 Evaluation Summary Report, Katie Rosingana Ba, Evelyn Ali Bs, Tyler Egeland Ba, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

Through a collaborative effort led by the Healthy Community Coalition, the multi-sector Rural Addiction Care Expansion (R.A.C.E.) to Recovery initiative consortium is utilizing evidence-based, community-wide response to impact and reduce the effects of the opioid epidemic in the Western Maine Public Health District/ Greater Franklin County. To assess and evaluate the implementation, successes, and challenges of the RACE to Recovery project, the Cutler Institute is collecting and analyzing data for both process and outcomes of the initiative.

In the first year of the initiative, the Cutler evaluation team utilized both primary and secondary data to assess RACE to Recovery program …

Support For Me Needs Assessment Summary., Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Katie Rosingana Ba, Evelyn Ali Bs, Karen Pearson Mlis, Ma, Mark Richards Bs, Katharine Knight Mph, Tyler Egeland Ba, Olivia Dooley Mpa

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

Maine Department of Health and Human Services contracted with the Catherine Cutler Institute at the University of Southern Maine to conduct a baseline needs assessment. The overall goal was to better understand the current capacity to address substance use in Maine; find barriers to receiving and utilizing SUD treatment and recovery services; and identify any gaps in SUD-related services in the state. The Cutler team conducted interviews, surveys, community listening sessions and focus groups with healthcare key informants (leadership from health systems, residential care, recovery housing, behavioral health agencies), providers (medical, behavioral health, first responders, residential treatment, law enforcement, opioid …

Time To Ask Program At Greater Portland Health [Infographic], Evelyn Ali Bs, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

The goals of the Time to Ask education and quality improvement program of the Lunder Dineen include increasing the capacity of interprofessional care teams in discussing alcohol use with the patients through the screening, brief intervention, and referral (SBIRT) process, and expanding providers' use of screening and monitoring unhealthy alcohol use of their patients.

This evaluation infographic visualizes the impact of Greater Portland Health's use of this program.

For more information about Time to Ask, visit https://lunderdineen.org/program/alcohol-use-time-to-ask/

For more information about the evaluation, please contact M. Lindsey Smith, PhD, m.lindsey.smith@maine.edu

Support For Me: Substance Use Disorder Prevalence And Treatment Capacity Assessment, Rachel T. Gallo Mph, Katharine Knight Mph, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

The aim of this report was to understand the sociodemographic and geographic distribution of substance use disorder (SUD) prevalence in Maine, through a claims-based analysis which assessed current statewide capacity to address SUD by examining current SUD treatment and recovery infrastructure, service utilization patterns, and geographic distribution of services and usage throughout the state to identify any gaps in treatment and recovery capacity.

The authors would like to note that this report was completed during the planning phase of the SUPPORT for ME project, which was funded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) via the SUPPORT Act …

Support For Me: Provider Focus Group Summary, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Katie Rosingana Ba, Evelyn Ali Bs, Tyler Egeland Ba, Karen Pearson Mlis, Ma, Mark Richards Bs

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

This summary highlights feedback from focus groups with providers across Maine who currently address the needs of persons with substance use disorder (SUD). These providers represent individuals working in the following organizations: Health Systems, Behavioral Health Agencies, Residential Treatment, Community Recovery Programs, Opioid Treatment Programs (OTP), Emergency Medical Services (EMS), First Responders (EMT, fire, police), and law enforcement (e.g., Sheriff’s Office, Corrections). This summary report is designed to provide feedback to the Office of MaineCare Services to help inform their strategic planning process to increase statewide capacity for SUD treatment and recovery service capacity to better meet the needs of …

Use Of Electronic Health Records To Manage Tobacco Screening And Treatment In Rural Primary Care, Jean A. Talbot Phd, Erica C. Ziller Phd, Carly Milkowski Mph

Mental Health / Substance Use Disorders

Researchers at the Maine Rural Health Research Center, University of Southern Maine examined whether the use of electronic health records by rural primary care physicians facilitates their use of best practices in addressing tobacco dependence. The study used the National Ambulatory Medicare Care Survey (2012-2015) to explore how rurality and use of tobacco-related electronic health record functions were related to smoking status documentation and cessation treatment at adult primary care visits. Rural-urban comparisons were also examined.

The authors conclude that rural primary care physicians were at least as successful as their urban counterparts in leveraging electronic health records to enhance …

Support For Me: Key Stakeholder Interview Summary, Katie Rosingana Ba, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Karen Pearson Mlis, Ma, Evelyn Ali Bs, Tyler Egeland Ba, Mark Richards Bs

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

This summary feedback report is organized to inform the Office of MaineCare Services goal of addressing barriers and finding new and/or improved ways to increase capacity in Maine for people who seek treatment and recovery services for substance use disorder. Interview protocols were designed to assess critical domains of interest for the state, which include: current and potential provider capacity, access to care & service delivery provider willingness, and financial/ administrative policies.

Key Highlights from the stakeholder interviews indicated that:

• While there have been improvements in the integration of care for persons with behavioral health (BH) diagnoses, this integration has …

Opioid Use And Harm Reduction, Elise Bourassa, David Lee, Jason Rogers, Christian Silverthorne

Thinking Matters Symposium

Calls for various harm reduction approaches to the opioid epidemic are increasing in activist communities (Chapkis, 2020; Kennedy-Hendricks et al., 2019; Sederer & Marino, 2018). Given that harm reduction approaches, if implemented, will be provided by people in various helping professions, the current study investigates the relationship between choice of human service-focused college major and level of support for harm reduction interventions for people who use opioid drugs. A quantitative survey that aims to measure knowledge and perceptions of harm reduction strategies has been disseminated to students in social work, counseling, public health and nursing departments at the University of …

Capacity Of Rural Counties To Address An Hiv Or Hepatitis C Outbreak, Jennifer Lenardson Mhs, Jaclyn Janis Rn, Mph, Amanda Burgess Mppm, Karen Pearson Mlis, Ma, Martha Elbaum Mpa

Population Health

HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) are major public health concerns in the United States and are a focus of significant federal health policy attention. Rural counties may be potentially vulnerable to an HIV or HCV outbreak among persons who inject drugs due to greater prevalence of high-risk injection practices as well as limited public health capacity to prevent, prepare for, and respond to an HIV or HCV outbreak. This study identified states potentially at risk for an HIV or HCV outbreak and used data from the 2016 Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) Profile Survey, 2016 National Association …

Opioid-Related Visits To Rural Emergency Departments, Erika C. Ziller Phd, Jean A. Talbot Phd, Deborah Thayer Mba, Carly Milkowski Mph

Mental Health / Substance Use Disorders

Increased rates of acute opioid poisoning and related emergency department (ED) visits in the United States have occurred at the same time as rural EDs face a number of resource constraints. Researchers at the Maine Rural Health Research Center conducted this study to gain insight about rural ED visits for acute opioid poisoning and how they compare with urban ED visits. The authors used data from the 2006 and 2013 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample to examine rural and urban opioid-related visits (ORVs) to EDs, including rate change over time, and the outcomes of these ED visits (treatment and release, inpatient …

Downeast Maine Mat Expansion Project: Year 3 Final Data Summary, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Evelyn Ali Bs, Katharine Knight Mph, Tyler Egeland Ba

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

This report summarizes the collaborative effort of Healthy Acadia, its providers, the Downeast Substance Treatment Network, and Downeast Substance Use Response Coalition, to combat opioid use disorder (OUD) in Downeast Maine through multiple evidence-based strategies.

Project goals included the reduction of barriers to accessing medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and the enhancement of MAT services by improving provider capacity through training and implementation of best practice treatment.

For more information, please contact M. Lindsey Smith, PhD, m.lindsey.smith@maine.edu

Downeast Maine Mat Expansion Project: Year 2 Data Summary, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Evelyn Ali Bs, Tyler Egeland Ba

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

This report summarizes the Year 2 activities of the Healthy Acadia Downeast Maine MAT Expansion Project. Through a collaborative effort of Healthy Acadia, its providers, the Downeast Substance Treatment Network and Downeast Substance Use Response Coalition, the project utilized multiple evidence-based strategies to combat opioid use disorder (OUD) in Downeast Maine.

FMI: M. Lindsey Smith, PhD, m.lindsey.smith@maine.edu

Substance Use Among Rural And Urban Youth And Young Adults, Jennifer D. Lenardson Mhs, Nathan Paluso Mph, Erika C. Ziller Phd

Mental Health / Substance Use Disorders

Rural youth and young adults have historically had higher use rates of alcohol and other substances than their urban counterparts. Recent research suggests that rates of youth and young adult alcohol and other substance use have declined over the past two decades, but we have limited knowledge of whether and how current rural and urban substance use patterns may differ. As national substance use rates decline, it is important to re-assess differences in use among rural versus urban youth and young adults. This study uses data from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) to examine rural-urban differences …

Recovery And Opioid Addiction Resources (Roar): Summary Of Kennebec Behavioral Health Focus Group, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Evelyn Ali Bs, Katie Rosingana Ba, Mark Richards Bs, Rachel M. Gallo Mph, Tyler Egeland Ba

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

No abstract provided.

Project Support You: Addressing The Opioid Epidemic Through Community Collaboration And Education. Tri-County Mental Health [Infographic], Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Evelyn Ali Bs, Rachel M. Gallo Mph, Tyler Egeland Ba

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

No abstract provided.

Lincoln County Community Paramedicine Data Collection Initiative [Infographic], Evelyn Ali Bs, Katie Rosingana Ba, Karen Pearson Mlis, Ma

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

No abstract provided.

Lincoln County Community Paramedicine Data Collection Initiative, Katie Rosingana Ba, Evelyn Ali Bs, Karen Pearson Mlis, Ma

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

No abstract provided.

Health Access Network: Mehaf Addiction Care Program, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Katie Rosingana Ba, Rachel M. Gallo Mph, Evelyn Ali Bs

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

No abstract provided.

Mat Program Patient Satisfaction Survey: Mehaf Addiction Care Grant Year 3, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Rachel M. Gallo Mph, Evelyn Ali Bs

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

No abstract provided.

Healthy Acadia Mehaf Addiction Care Program. Year Three Summary, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Katie Rosingana Ba, Evelyn Ali Bs, Rachel M. Gallo Mph, Tyler Egeland Ba

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

No abstract provided.

York Hospital Recovery Center's Medication-Assisted Treatment Program. Mehaf Addiction Care Grant Year 3, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Rachel M. Gallo Mph, Olivia Dooley Mpa

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

No abstract provided.

Downeast Maine Mat Expansion Project: Year 1 Data Summary, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Olivia Dooley Mpa, Evelyn Ali Bs

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

This report summarizes the Year 1 activities of the Healthy Acadia Downeast Maine MAT Expansion Project. Through a collaborative effort of Healthy Acadia, its providers, the Downeast Substance Treatment Network and Downeast Substance Use Response Coalition, the project utilized multiple evidence-based strategies to combat opioid use disorder (OUD) in Downeast Maine.

Key findings focused on:

• capacity building,
• stakeholder engagement,
• organizational and peer support,
• payment and reimbursement issues,
• the creation of low-barrier access to MAT,
• barriers, including stigma, to MAT
• patient-centered approaches
• auxiliary recovery supports

For more information, please contact M. LIndsey Smith, PhD at m.lindsey.smith@maine.edu

Experiences Of Veterans With Ptsd And Sud In An Outpatient Setting, Andrew Breault, Hannah Shifflett-Kohler

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

In 2014, there were approximately 7.9 million adults in the United States with co-occurring Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Substance Use Disorders (SUD) (SAMHSA, 2014). Of the veterans who served in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan alone, 30% of those in SUD treatment also meet the criteria for PTSD (Seal et al, 2008, pp. 476). Furthermore, statistics show that about 20 Veterans in the United States complete suicide daily (Spiva, 2019, p. 8). The Department of Veterans Affairs is urgently seeking successful approaches to addressing the high incidence of suicides among all veterans along with the low retention …

Challenges And Strategies To Expanding Mat Within Primary Care: Provider Perspectives. Issue Brief, Rachel M. Gallo Mph, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Katie Rosingana Ba

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

No abstract provided.

Building Capacity For Medication-Assisted Treatment (Mat) Through Mehaf's Addiction Care Program. [Infographic], Rachel M. Gallo Mph

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

No abstract provided.

Addressing The Treatment And Recovery Support Needs Of Individuals With Opioid Use Disorder: Patient Perspectives, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Katie Rosingana Ba, Rachel M. Gallo Mph, Frances Jimenez Ba, Mark Richards Ba

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

No abstract provided.

Expanding Access To Medication-Assisted Treatment (Mat) Through Primary Care Practices: Findings From The Maine Health Access Foundation's Addiction Care Program (Years One And Two), Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Rachel M. Gallo Mph, Katie Rosingana Ba, Mark Richards Bs, Frances Jimenez Bs

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

No abstract provided.