Introducing The BASIS: Your Portal to Addiction Science and Resources

March 14, 2017

Heather Gray, Ph.D.
Senior Editor, The BASISAssociate Director of Academic Affairs, Division on Addiction

Do you struggle to keep up with the latest addiction research? Do you spend too much time search for trusted, evidence-based addiction resources? If so, The BASIS (Brief Addiction Science Information Source) is for you!

The BASIS is a product of the Division on Addiction at Cambridge Health Alliance, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital. Each week, Division on Addiction faculty members select a recent scientific article related to drinking, smoking, other drug use, or gambling, and summarize its key details: What was the purpose? What did the authors do, and what did they find? What are the implications for treatment and public health? Our science reviews are brief, engaging, and designed to appeal to a general audience. Subscribe to our mailing list to get each science review delivered straight to your inbox. It's a quick and easy way to keep on top of emerging scientific literature.

Take the quiz: How much do you know about problem gambling?

March 1, 2017
Maureen Fitzgerald
Communications Coordinator, ATTC Network Coordinating Office
Editor, NIATx

The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) sponsors Problem Gambling Awareness Month each March to increase awareness of problem gambling and of the availability of prevention, treatment and recovery services.

What kind of people become problem gamblers? 

According to the NCPG FAQ page, "Anyone who gambles can develop problems if they are not aware of the risks and do not gamble responsibly. When gambling behavior interferes with finances, relationships, and the workplace, a serious problem already exists. "

Tips for Navigating 508 Compliance

February 22, 2017

Kendra Barker, M.Ed.Instructional Designer-SpecialistCollaborative for Excellence in Behavioral Health Research and PracticeUniversity of Missouri-Kansas City

Think 508 compliance is just for other people to worry about?

Think again. Disabled World reported in 2015 that people with disabilities experience substance use disorders at a rate two to four times higher than the general population.  CDC reported in 2015 that one out of every five people in the U.S. has a disability.

It's important that people with disabilities have access to information and resources on the Web. That's where 508 enters the picture.  Yet, for many people, 508--what it is, and what rules must be followed--is a bit of a mystery.  In this blog post, I hope to clear up some of that mystery by defining 508 compliance and why it's important to you, your organization, and those you serve (clients, patients, colleagues, and staff).

PPW Project Echo: Building capacity to provide care for pregnant and postpartum women with substance use disorders

February 21, 2017

Sarah Knopf-Amelung, MA-R
Senior Project Manager
ATTC Center of Excellence on Behavioral Health for Pregnant and Postpartum Women and Their Families 

Providing evidence-based, family-centered care to pregnant and postpartum women with substance use disorders is extremely complex. In addition to the pressing medical concerns associated with substance use during pregnancy, it also has far-reaching impacts on family members, necessitating providers to care for the whole family. Recognizing the need for training, technical assistance, and support for the behavioral health workforce serving this population, the ATTC Center of Excellence on Behavioral Health for Pregnant and Postpartum Women and Their Families (CoE-PPW) and the ATTC Network Coordinating Office partnered to develop the PPW Project ECHO. This ECHO is the first of its kind to address the behavioral health needs of pregnant and postpartum women, taking a family-centered approach to the recovery process that is inclusive of family members ranging from the infant to older children, fathers to extended family.

What do med students and prescribers need to know about opioid use disorders?

February 8, 2017

Caroline Miller, MSW
Outreach Specialist,
University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Continuing Studies

Wisconsin Voices for Recovery partnered with the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health on a Community Engagement Project to conduct a statewide survey of practicing physicians and medical students. The survey was a student-led effort and initiated because medical students felt that their current education on issues related to addiction, specifically the opioid epidemic, was inadequate. The findings highlight where Wisconsin needs to commit resources to improve the education of both students and prescribers, along with end stigma within the medical community.