New SAMHSA Web site Provides Tools to Help Address Co-Occurring Disorders and Homelessness

Source: SAMHSA News Release, 11/16/09

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) today announces the availability of a new Web site to help SAMHSA grantees, health professionals and the public address problems of homelessness and co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders. The site, http://chab.samhsa.gov/ features an on-line library of tools that are designed to advance the field and improve the effectiveness of prevention, treatment and recovery programs operated by SAMHSA’s Co-Occurring and Homeless Activities Branch (CHAB) and other service providers.

The new CHAB Web site provides a platform for creating an interactive community of providers, consumers, policymakers, researchers, and public agencies at federal, state, and local levels working to prevent and treat homelessness and co-occurring substance abuse and mental disorders.

Click here to read the rest of the press release

• Click the following links to see some of the resources the PIC has available for loan relating to homelessness and co-occurring disorders.

SAMHSA News for Sept/Oct 09

SAMHSA News email subscription

SAMHSA News is the national newsletter of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  It is available for subscription in print or online.   The newsletter and back issues can be accessd at http://www.samhsa.gov/samhsaNewsletter/ .

Tree-free, online subscriptions are now nicely formatted and easy to browse and access articles of interest.

The  Sept Oct 2009 (vol 17:5) issue focuses on Recovery.  Additional stories are available related to:

• Treatment
• Suicide
• Grants
• Communications
• Recovery Month
• New Survey Data
• Prevention
• Special Populations

Visit the SAMHSA News Homepage
Read or print SAMHSA Newsletter for Sept/Oct 2009 as a pdf

HHS Manual Focuses on Protecting Children Impacted by Family Substance Abuse

Source: OJJDP JuvJust e-News, 8/19/09

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS’) Children’s Bureau has released “Protecting Children in Families Affected by Substance Use Disorders.” Part of the Bureau’s Child Abuse and Neglect User Manual Series, the manual examines such topics as:

the nature of substance use disorders

the impact of parental substance abuse disorders on children

examination, screening, assessment, and treatment for substance abuse disorders

the role of child protective services caseworkers.

Resources:

“Protecting Children in Families Affected by Substance Use Disorders” is available online at www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanuals/substanceuse or in pdf at http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanuals/substanceuse/substanceuse.pdf.

For further information about the Child Abuse and Neglect User Manual Series, visit www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanual.cfm.

New National Online Resource Provides Practical Advice and Hope for People Dealing with Emotional Health Issues Related to Financial Stress

Source: SAMHSA News Release, 3/31/09

Provides essential information on how economic conditions can affect physical and mental health and where people can turn for help

A first-of-its-kind, online guide now provides crucial information and resource referrals for people dealing with emotional or other health problems associated with economic hard times. The “Getting Through Tough Economic Times” guide http://www.samhsa.gov/economy/  provides practical advice on identifying health concerns, developing coping skills and finding help.

Developed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in collaboration with other government agencies and the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, which is administered by SAMHSA’s grantee the Education Development Center, Inc., the guide outlines the risks that unemployment and other forms of economic distress (foreclosure, severe financial losses, etc.) can pose to health.

Based on a review of the scientific literature published in the last 20 years, the guide notes that although these economic problems may affect individuals differently, for many people economic hardship contributes to increased risk for a variety of conditions including:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Compulsive Behaviors (over-eating, excessive gambling, spending, etc.)
• Substance abuse

On a positive note, the guide also provides individuals and communities with practical steps that can be used to get through these tough periods and achieve restored health and productivity.  In particular the guide provides:

• Important information on identifying the warning signs of depression, suicidal thinking and other serious mental illnesses.
• Effective steps to help manage emotional distress, such as through exercise, strengthening connections with family and friends, and developing new job skills.
• Resources for getting help – such as the National Mental Health Information Center http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/databases/ for information on where to access help on a wide range of mental illnesses, and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for those in crisis.  The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is operated by SAMHSA’s grantee Link2HealthSolutions, Inc, under a cooperative agreement.

“The guide is a quick and easy tool that people can use to better manage their emotional wellbeing,” said SAMHSA Acting Administrator Eric Broderick, D.D.S., M.P.H.  “By helping people remain resilient, we can help promote the overall recovery of our nation.”

The Department of Health and Human Services (SAMHSA is an agency with the Department of Health and Human Services), the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Labor, the Department of the Treasury and the U.S. General Services Administration all collaborated in this effort.

For further information on mental health or substance abuse issues please visit SAMHSA’s website at http://www.samhsa.gov

Free Resources Available to Help Commemorate National Inhalants & Poisons Awareness Week

Source: ANTI-DRUG UPDATE, 3/16/09

Many children start huffing, sniffing, dusting, or bagging – slang terms that are often used – inhalants because they are inexpensive, widely available, and legal. But most of them don’t fully understand the dire consequences associated with inhalant use, including sudden sniffing death syndrome, a condition where the heart begins to overwork, beating quickly and unevenly, which can lead to cardiac arrest and death, even the first time a child inhales.

Many of the substances used by teens to inhale are usually found in the home and can range from paint and nail polish remover to deodorant, rubber cement, gasoline, and even cooking spray.Parents should be on the lookout for some of the common signs and symptoms of abuse, such as unusual breath odor or chemical odor on clothing; spots and/or sores around the mouth; nausea and/or loss of appetite; slurred or disoriented speech; or red or runny eyes or nose.

Throughout the year – and especially during National Inhalants & Poisons Awareness Week – please remind parents that there is a wealth of information available to them free of charge.  Information about inhalants is available on the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign’s parent Web site, www.TheAntiDrug.com, at http://www.TheAntiDrug.com/drug_info/drug_info_inhalants.asp.  Conversation starters, to help parents talk to their teens about often uncomfortable topics, can be found at http://www.TheAntiDrug.com/advice/safeguarding-and-monitoring/conversation-tips/sample-conversations.aspx.  Finally, teens in your communities who need a reality check should be encouraged to visit http://www.AboveTheInfluence.com/facts/drugs-inhalants.aspx#.

About National Inhalants & Poisons Awareness Week:

National Inhalant Prevention Coalition (NIPC) developed the National Inhalants & Poisons Awareness Week (NIPAW), an annual media-based, community-level program that takes place the third week in March.  NIPAW is designed to increase understanding about the use and risks of inhalant involvement.  It is an inclusive program that involves youth, schools, media, police departments, health organizations, civics groups and more.  It has proven to be an effective means of mobilizing communities to reduce inhalant use.  For more information about NIPC, please visit www.inhalants.org.

New SAMHSA Report on Addiction Funding and Prevalence

Source: JoinTogether Funding Tips and Trends, 02/23/09

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has released a new report that details the amount of grant money the agency gives to each state alongside data on state alcohol and other drug use and other information.

The “State in Brief” reports cover all 50 states plus the District of Columbia. Also included are the number and type of treatment programs in each state, data on the number of people seeking treatment, and information on underage tobacco use and mental illness.

State-to-state comparisons on drug prevalence also is included. The reports can be downloaded from the SAMHSA website.

Click here for the OAS States in Brief Reports
Click here for the Colorado Report

Promoting Innovation in Financing Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

Source: SAMHSA News Release, 11/13/2008
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) today announced the creation of a new financing center of excellence. Through the new center, SAMHSA will create a national network of expertise for generating new financing approaches as well as promising practices developed by mental health and substance abuse service programs and policy makers across the country.

?Our goal is to provide individuals working to improve the nation?s health with insight on maximizing financial support for mental health and substance abuse services,? said SAMHSA Acting Administrator Eric Broderick, D.D.S., M.P.H. ?By serving as a source of innovation and information dissemination, SAMHSA can greatly advance its goal of increasing prevention and treatment service capacity and improving effectiveness.?

SAMHSA established the center through a five-year contract for $7.3 million with Deloitte Consulting LLP, which will set up and manage the center. Deloitte, public sector and health care financing consultancy in the U.S., has worked with over 47 states and territories and 80 percent of the largest managed care organizations on health and human services financing issues.

Some center activities will include:

• monitoring and analyzing public and private mental health and substance abuse treatment systems and major trends and advances in service delivery financing;
• convening experts to identify mechanisms to foster sustainable improvements in the financing of mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment delivery systems; and
• communicating routinely to the public about all facets of mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment financing.

The center will draw upon the services of leading experts in the fields of public health financing as well as the services of organizations that will serve as contractors to Deloitte Consulting such as the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors, NASMPHD Research Institute Inc, American Public Human Services Association/National Association of State Medicaid Directors, and Carnevale Associates.

New NSDUH Report : Underage Alcohol Use: Where Do Young People Drink?

Source SAMHSA eNetwork email, 9/5/08

In 2006, more than one in four persons aged 12 to 20 in the United States, or about 10.8 million persons, drank alcohol in the past month (i.e., were current drinkers). Nearly one in five persons aged 18 to 20 drove under the influence of alcohol in the past 12 months in 2006, and each year approximately 1,900 people under the age of 21 die as a result of alcohol-involved motor vehicle crashes. In addition, early initiation of alcohol use is associated with increased likelihood of unprotected sexual intercourse and multiple sex partners.

Click here to download this report.

The following are brief findings from the report:

• A majority (53.4 percent) of current alcohol users aged 12 to 20 drank at someone else’s home the last time they used alcohol, and another 30.3 percent drank in their own home.
• The percentage of underage alcohol users who had their most recent drink in a car or other vehicle peaked at 10.0 percent at age 16 (12.8 percent of females and 7.3 percent of males).
• Among 20-year-old current drinkers, 20.0 percent of females drank in a restaurant, bar, or club the last time they used alcohol compared with 10.2 percent of males.

Free Grant Workshop for Rural Health Providers, 7/30/2008

Source:  email from CRHC

Would you like to access federal dollars for your community? The Colorado Rural Health Center is working with the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy to provide technical assistance to rural health organizations in applying for federal grants.

This free workshop on July 30th will cover:
• Rural Health Network Development Planning Grants
• Rural Access to Emergency Devices (RAED) Grants
• Rural Health Care Services Outreach Grants
• Other Federal Grants

More details about these specific grant programs can be found at: http://ruralhealth.hrsa.gov/funding/GrantPrograms.htm. 

At the conclusion of this workshop, participants will understand:
 Funding opportunities available to rural communities at the federal level; 
 Eligibility requirements for these funding opportunities; 
 Practical and effective grant-writing techniques; and 
 Ways in which to work more effectively with your SORH when seeking grant funds in the future. 

To register or for more details, please visit the workshop link on our website at http://www.coruralhealth.org/crhc/events/Documents/hrsa_ta_7.30.08.pdf

For more information contact:

Shelly Collings
Development Coordinator
Colorado Rural Health Center
3033 S. Parker Rd., Ste. 606
Aurora, CO 80014
sc@coruralhealth.org
303-832-7493
720-233-5590
From rural Colorado 1-800-851-6782

2007 YRBS Results and Data Available

• See MMWR Surveillance Summary June 6, 2008 / 57(SS04);1-131 : Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance — United States, 2007 (or click here for PDF)
• See CDC 2007 YRBS Press Release, 6/4/2006: Nation’s High School Students Showing Overall Improvements in Health-Related Behaviors : However, Hispanic Students Not Showing Progress in Some Key Areas
• See CDC’s YRBSS: Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System home page at http://www.cdc.gov/yrbs/