NIAAA's Alcohol Treatment Navigator: Pointing the way to evidence-based care

November 20, 2017

Lori Ducharme, Ph.D.
Program Director for Health Services Research
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) estimates that about 15 million American adults met the diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorder in 2016, while only about 10% received treatment from a specialty facility. And many of those who access treatment still don’t get care that meets their needs, or includes evidence-based behavioral therapies or medications. 

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), recently released a new online resource called the Alcohol Treatment Navigator. It’s designed to be a comprehensive, easy-to-use tool to help individuals and their loved ones navigate the often-complex process of searching for, and choosing, a professional treatment provider. By explaining what you need to know, and what you need to do to find quality treatment, the Navigator aims to help empower people to make more informed decisions. This is especially important because the search for help often comes at a time when families are most stressed.

Native American Heritage Month: Books to add to your reading list

November 7, 2017

Maureen Fitzgerald

ATTC Network Coordinating Office

NIATx 

Awareness months such as November’s Native American Heritage Month can be a great time to challenge ourselves to learn more about Native Americans’ history and culture, as well as their experiences today. 

Start by adding books by American Indian authors to your reading list. If you're looking for book recommendations, consult Birchbark Books, an independent bookstore in Minneapolis owned by Native American novelist Louise Erdrich. Erdrich's books and poetry have won numerous awards; her 2016 novel LaRose won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction.

Bill White on Recovery Rising: A Memoir from the Frontlines of Addiction Treatment and Recovery

October 31, 2017

Bill White has worked in addiction treatment, recovery research, and recovery advocacy for nearly half a century. He's published more than 20 books and monographs on addiction treatment and recovery. His newest book, Recovery Rising: A Retrospective of Addiction Treatment and Recovery Advocacy contains more than 350 vignettes with accompanying reflective questions that allow readers to explore their own thoughts and experiences related to some of the most challenging issues on the frontlines of addiction treatment and recovery support.

Bill answered a few questions about his new book for the ATTC/NIATx Service Improvement Blog:

Cultural competence and organizational change: Meet the researcher, Dr. Erick Guerrero

October 15, 2017

Maureen Fitzgerald
ATTC Network Office
Great Lakes ATTC
NIATx

Photo credit:Shutterstock

National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15) celebrates Hispanic and Latino heritage and the countless ways that Hispanics and Latinos have contributed to the arts, sports, literature and science. And in behavioral health, Hispanic and Latino researchers and scientists are among those who are helping to build our understanding of how race and culture influence access to and engagement in treatment.

Immediate help in Puerto Rico: National Hispanic and Latino ATTC training first responders

October 14, 2017

Maureen Fitzgerald
ATTC Network Coordinating Office
NIATx/Great Lakes ATTC

Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands  on September 20, and the majority of the island lacks power or running water. Residents who remain on the island are struggling to overcome the enormous physical and emotional distress of the storm, the strongest to hit the island in 90 years. Recovery efforts are underway, but officials estimate that it will take months to bring things back to normal.