The latest in substance use disorders and pain management education for healthcare providers

August 2025

Greetings,

Welcome to the August edition of the MACS Monthly Newsletter!

This month, in collaboration with the Maryland Department of Health, we are spotlighting an initiative at the heart of our mission and sharing resources on a newly developed informational webpage dedicated to combating stigma in healthcare settings. We understand that addressing stigma is a key component to ensuring access to care for individuals across Maryland, and we invite you to explore the essential resources on our webpage and hear directly from your colleagues in their own words about their experiences and insights. Further information is included in this newsletter.

As we approach International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, our collective efforts to combat stigma take on even greater significance. This day is a crucial moment to remember those lost to overdose – including 80,391 overdose deaths reported in 2024 – and promote access to treatment and recovery. By reducing stigma in healthcare settings, we are sharing a powerful reminder that compassion and accessible care are vital in the fight against overdose.

Providers can access support in caring for patients with SUDs and chronic pain by scheduling an individualized consultation or registering for an upcoming training with the MACS team of addiction medicine specialists. Call 1-855-337-MACS (6227) or visit www.marylandmacs.org to learn more.

Explore this newsletter and the tools available on the MACS website for additional information about provider education and treatment resources.

– The MACS Team

STIGMA IN HEALTHCARE SETTINGS

Check out your colleagues featured in our digital campaign with the Maryland Department of Health addressing stigma in healthcare settings.

Visit our informational webpage to learn more and hear directly from your colleagues in their own words.

(Clockwise: Felicia Bailey, DNP, FNP-C, Nishant Shah, MD, MPH, Edwin Juma, DNP, CRNP, Terry Fitzgerald, MD)

NEW FACT SHEETS

The Role of Sleep and Suvorexant in Opioid Use Disorder Treatment

This fact sheet explores how vital sleep management is in recovery, and how Suvorexant (Belsomra®) can be an effective tool to improve sleep in the patient population with OUD.

Fact Sheet: Sleep and Suvorexant

Opioid Withdrawal: The Importance of Self-Reported Symptoms

This fact sheet reveals why self-reported symptoms (like those captured by the SOWS) are not just important, but often more sensitive and predictive of treatment outcomes than observer-rated scales (COWS).

Fact Sheet: Opioid Withdrawal

EDUCATION

Upcoming MACS Training Opportunities

MACS Webinar

Presented in partnership with Maryland Behavioral Health Integration in Pediatric Primary Care (BHIPP)

Drinking and Alcohol Use Disorder in Youth

Thursday, September 25 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Presented by MACS Consultant Marc Fishman, MD

MACS Webinar

In observance of Pharmacy Week 2025

Tuesday, October 21 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Save the date! Webinar title, presenter information and registration link coming soon.

MACS Webinar

Confronting Stigma in Addiction Care

Thursday, December 4 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Presented by MACS Consultant Michael Fingerhood, MD

Save the date! Registration link coming soon.

Upcoming Trainings of Interest

Mountain Plains Addiction Technology Transfer Center

Early Intervention Strategies for Youth in Rural Areas: Addressing Substance Use

Wednesday, August 6 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

The Science of Addiction and Recovery – A Father’s Perspective

Thursday, August 14 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

NAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals

Suicide and Substance Use Disorders: A Current Epidemic

Wednesday, August 20 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

CA Bridge

Overdose Prevention & Community Outreach

Thursday, August 21 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

MACS ECHO Sessions

MACS is not hosting any ECHO programming (OTP, SUD, Maternal Health and Trauma-Informed Care) during the month of August. All ECHOs will return in September with new curriculums and case-based discussions.

Be sure to check out the ECHO homepage for additional information!

CONFERENCES & EVENTS

American Case Management Association Maryland Chapter 2025 Annual Case Management and Transitions of Care Conference

Saturday, September 6

Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center | Rockville, Maryland

MACS exhibit table

Association of Nigerian Nurse Practitioners in North America 2025 Educational Conference

Friday, September 12

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Columbia | Columbia, Maryland

MACS exhibit table

NEWS

Disparities in Treatment and Referral After an Opioid Overdose Among Emergency Department Patients

A new cohort study revealed gaps in care for adults treated for opioid overdose in U.S. emergency departments. Researchers found that out of 1,683 patients, 42% received naloxone kits or prescriptions. Even fewer – just 8% – were prescribed buprenorphine. Additionally, only 18% were referred to outpatient treatment. Racial disparities were also highlighted, with Black patients significantly less likely than white patients to be referred to outpatient care. These findings reveal a critical missed opportunity to connect individuals with essential care immediately after an overdose.

Benefits of acute aerobic exercise to ameliorate craving and risky decision-making in individuals with methamphetamine use disorder

This study highlighted the benefits of acute aerobic exercise for individuals with methamphetamine use disorder (MUD). The research found that even a single session of moderate-intensity aerobic activity can effectively reduce methamphetamine craving and improve decision-making functions that are often impaired by MUD. These improvements in cognitive functions, such as impulsive and short-sighted decision-making, suggest that acute exercise holds promise as a valuable non-pharmacological intervention to help manage core symptoms and potentially lower the risk of relapse in individuals with methamphetamine use disorder.

United States trends in non-prescribed use of Adderall and Ritalin: Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study estimates from 2013 to 2022

A recent study investigated trends in the non-prescribed use of stimulants like Adderall and Ritalin in the United States, utilizing data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study from 2013 to 2022. Overall, the research found no significant change in the prevalence of past 12-month non-prescribed stimulant use. However, when examining different age groups, young adults aged 18 to 24 consistently showed a much higher prevalence of non-prescribed use compared to other cohorts, though their rates had notably declined in more recent survey waves.

Use of Tobacco and Cannabis Following State-Level Cannabis Legalization

A large, U.S.-based cohort study evaluated how legalization of recreational cannabis impacts tobacco smoking, e-cigarette use, and cannabis use among adults (18+). After recreational cannabis legalization, there was a measurable increase in cannabis consumption among adults over 5 years. The study found no significant shifts in cigarette smoking or e-cigarette use related to cannabis legalization. These results suggest that making recreational cannabis legal may encourage its own use but do not appear to increase the use of tobacco products.

Parental Adverse Childhood Experiences and Health Care Use Among Children With Sickle Cell Disease

This cross-sectional study examined the association between parental adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and healthcare utilization among children with sickle cell disease (SCD). Conducted at a single children's hospital and involving 72 caregivers, the research found that higher parental ACEs scores and lower parental resilience were significantly linked to increased emergency department (ED) visits and hospital admissions for their children with SCD. Specifically, children of caregivers with high ACEs risk or lower resilience had more ED visits and admissions. The study emphasizes the importance of screening caregivers for ACEs and assessing their resilience to provide more effective trauma-informed care for families managing chronic conditions like SCD.

RESOURCES

Baltimore City Overdose Needs Assessment Dashboard (City of Baltimore)

Be a Hero: Save a Life With Naloxone (MDH)

Stigma in Healthcare Settings (MACS and MDH)

1-855-337-MACS (6227) | www.marylandmacs.org | MACS@som.umaryland.edu