DACS Digest May 2025

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Bringing DC healthcare providers the latest news, events, and resources to improve care for patients with substance use disorders and chronic pain management.

May 2025

Dear DACS Provider,

Welcome to the May edition of the DACS Digest monthly newsletter!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a crucial time to enhance understanding of mental health conditions and highlight available resources for individuals and families. The co-occurrence of mental health disorders and substance use disorders is a significant issue, with each often impacting the other. This is underscored by the fact that in the United States, over a third (35%) of adults who have a mental health disorder also have a substance use disorder. Addressing co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders is critical for improving patient outcomes, as untreated mental health conditions can often worsen substance use.

For support in caring for patients with co-occurring mental health disorders and substance use disorders, providers can schedule an individualized consultation or register for an upcoming training with the DACS team of addiction medicine specialists by calling 1-866-337-DACS (3227) or visiting www.districtdacs.org.

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

Sincerely,

The DACS Team

Education

Upcoming DACS Trainings

DACS Webinar

Substance Use in Older Adults

Thursday, July 10 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Upcoming Trainings of Interest

Opioid Response Network

In partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics

Overcoming Scarcity in Pediatric Care to Treat Opioid Use Disorder

Friday, May 16 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Grayken Center for Addiction Training & TA

Not Being Jaded: Talking to Youth Who Might Be Getting Faded - Unpacking Youth Substance Use

Friday, May 16 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

American Society of Addiction Medicine

Considerations for Tapering Benzodiazepine in Primary Care

Monday, May 19 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

CA Bridge

Navigating Chronic Pain & Opioid Use Disorder

Thursday, May 22 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Hospital Addiction Consultation Service and Opioid Use Disorder Treatment: The START Randomized Clinical Trial

A recent randomized clinical trial investigated the effectiveness of a Substance Use Treatment and Recovery Team (START) model in a hospital setting. The study found that patients receiving the START intervention, which included an addiction medicine provider and a care manager offering motivational interviewing, discharge planning, and follow-up, were significantly more likely to receive medication for opioid use disorder during their hospital stay and connect with opioid use disorder care after discharge. This intervention also led to improved rates of OUD-focused discharge plans and increased initiation or continuation of MOUD and outpatient clinician visits post-discharge, strongly supporting the implementation of hospital-based addiction consult services to bridge the gap in OUD treatment for hospitalized patients.

“It's more than just the act of not using. It's a feeling of finally completing something.”: Person-centered definitions of successful treatment outcomes from patients and staff at a methadone treatment program in Baltimore City

A qualitative study in Baltimore City delved into how patients and staff at an outpatient methadone treatment program define successful treatment outcomes. Beyond the traditional focus on abstinence, participants emphasized the significance of achieving a sense of completion and accomplishment in their recovery journey. This research underscores the importance of incorporating person-centered definitions of success in addiction treatment, particularly for marginalized populations facing significant inequities in care, recognizing that meaningful recovery encompasses not just the cessation of substance use but also a feeling of personal fulfillment and progress towards individual goals.

Packaging of Cannabis Edibles, Health Warning Recall, and Perceptions Among Young Adults

This cross-sectional study investigated how the packaging of cannabis edibles influences young adults' ability to recall health warnings and their overall perceptions of these products. Among 4,500 young adults surveyed, the researchers found that plain packaging was significantly linked to a higher likelihood of correctly remembering health warnings, lower product appeal and a greater perception of harm. Conversely, packaging designed to appeal to youth was associated with increased product appeal, and the presence of health claims also boosted appeal. The findings suggest that policymakers should consider mandating plain packaging, prohibiting youth-appealing designs, and regulating unsubstantiated health claims to improve young adults' awareness of risks associated with cannabis edibles

Holidays and Observances

Holidays

DACS Phone Line Will Be Closed

May 26 – Memorial Day

May Observances

Mental Health Awareness Month

Children's Mental Health Awareness Week

May 4 – May 10

Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week

May 5 – May 11

National Nurses Week

May 6 – May 12

National AANHPI Mental Health Day

May 10

National Women's Health Week

May 11 – May 17

National Prevention Week

May 11 – May 17

Relevant Resources

DACS Fact Sheet: Adolescents and Substance Us

Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Disorders in Pregnant and Postpartum Patients

A screening and resource guide for healthcare providers, patients, and caregivers in the District of Columbia, prepared by the MedStar Health National Center for Human Factors in Healthcare.

Opioid Use Disorder During and After Pregnancy

A patient resource guide on tips for a Healthy Pregnancy.

Care for the Caregiver

A guide for caregivers of pregnant and postpartum patients with opioid, stimulant, and other substance use disorders.

Pocket Guides for Safe Opioid Prescribing

Contains a number of resources to providers, including: CDC guidelines for safe opioid prescribing, a Morphine Milligram Equivalent (MME) conversion chart, a checklist for prescribing opioids for chronic pain, medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), and additional resources for providers and patients.

The DC Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (DC PDMP)

The Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) aims to improve the District’s ability to identify and reduce diversion of prescription drugs in an efficient and cost effective manner that will not impede the appropriate medical utilization of controlled substances.

Live.Long.DC

A coordinated multi-stakeholder approach to comprehensively address the opioid epidemic by sharing data, discussing initiatives and best practices, and identifying common approaches. The initiative is led by the DC Department of Behavioral Health with a goal of reducing opioid use, misuse, and opioid-related deaths in DC. For more information about Live.Long.DC strategies and initiatives, visit: https://livelong.dc.gov/

1-866-337-DACS (3227) | www.districtdacs.org | dacs@som.umaryland.edu