DACS Digest September 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.

September 2025

Dear DACS Provider,

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

September is National Recovery Month, a time dedicated to increasing our understanding of substance use disorders, reducing stigma surrounding SUDs, and educating the public on effective prevention, treatment and recovery strategies. It is a month to celebrate the recovery community and highlight new, evidence-based approaches to care. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 7 in 10 adults who have had a substance use problem consider themselves to be in recovery. Recovery is a tangible reality, leading to improvements in quality of life and well-being.

As part of National Recovery Month, we also observe National Addiction Professionals Day on September 20. This is an important day to acknowledge the vital role addiction professionals play in guiding individuals through their recovery journeys. These dedicated professionals provide essential prevention, treatment, and recovery management services, working to create a healthier future for everyone affected by SUDs.

We would also like to make you aware that DACS's services will conclude at the end of September. For resources related to caring for patients with substance use disorders, providers in the District of Columbia can visit Live.Long.DC's provider webpage.

Sincerely,

The DACS Team

Education

Upcoming DACS Trainings

DACS Webinar

Controlled Substance Deprescribing: A Patient Centered Approach

Wednesday, September 17 | 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Upcoming Trainings of Interest

Grayken Center for Addiction Training & Technical Assistance

Alcohol Use Disorders 101

Monday, September 15 | 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

McLean Hospital

Healing Together: Tackling Addiction With Mental Health in Mind

Thursday, September 25 | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Oral methadone versus sublingual buprenorphine for the treatment of acute opioid withdrawal: A triple-blind, double-dummy, randomized control trial

In a study conducted at an inpatient drug treatment center in India, researchers compared oral methadone to sublingual buprenorphine for managing acute opioid withdrawal. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either medication, with doses titrated over days 1-3 to control withdrawal symptoms. Over days 4-10, the medications were tapered and stopped by day 11. Completion of treatment was similar in both groups (83% methadone, 82% buprenorphine). The study found that while both medications successfully reduced subjective (SOWS) and objective (COWS) withdrawal symptoms, the buprenorphine group experienced significantly greater withdrawal symptoms than the methadone group at the end of treatment on day 10 (p = 0.009). Opioid craving decreased in both groups, without significant differences. The authors concluded that methadone is a safe and effective alternative to buprenorphine for the management of opioid withdrawal.

Implementation of a Statewide Fentanyl Possession Law and Opioid-Related Overdose Deaths

In an effort to combat the rise in opioid-related overdose deaths (OODs) from high-potency synthetic opioids like fentanyl, many states have classified fentanyl possession – even small amounts – as a felony. Colorado, for example, passed a 2022 law making possession of more than 1 gram of a substance containing any amount of fentanyl a felony punishable by up to 180 days in jail. Researchers conducted a cross-sectional study of adults in Colorado who experienced an OOD from January 2018 to November 2023 to evaluate the law's impact. The study found that while the overall OOD rate increased from 11.99 per 100,000 in 2018 to 25.0 per 100,000 in 2023, the total number of deaths did not significantly differ from the number predicted without the law. However, among the non-Hispanic Black population, OOD rates were significantly higher than predicted. The authors conclude that increasing criminal penalties for drug possession may not only fail to decrease OODs but could also worsen them.

Feasibility and acceptability of a contingency management program for stimulant use disorder in a pallet shelter community for homeless-experienced veterans

Contingency management (CM) is the most effective psychosocial treatment for stimulant use disorder, but it is often underutilized. To test its feasibility and acceptability, a 12-week CM program based on the standard VA protocol was implemented at a pallet shelter community for homeless-experienced veterans in Los Angeles. The study used a mixed-methods approach, analyzing attendance and stimulant abstinence rates, and conducting interviews with both participants (n = 10) and staff (n = 6). The findings showed that the program had an average attendance rate of 32% and, based on urine drug screens, a stimulant abstinence rate of 49%. While participants found the program accessible and helpful for meeting immediate needs and engaging with health services, they also expressed concerns about privacy, stigma and the perceived insufficiency of the rewards. The authors suggest that these findings should be taken into consideration when developing CM programs for other community-based settings.

Holidays and Observances

September Observances

National Recovery Month

Pain Awareness Month

Suicide Prevention Month

International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day

September 9

Telehealth Awareness Week

September 14 – 20

National Addiction Professionals Day

September 20

International Recovery Day

September 30

Relevant Resources

DACS Fact Sheet: Adolescents and Substance Use

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