POLICY IMPACT SNAPSHOT

Improving substance use disorder treatment through incentive-based care

More than 48 million people in the U.S. had a substance use disorder in 2024, yet only about 1 in 5 people who needed treatment received it. Lara Coughlin, Ph.D., associate professor of psychiatry, studies ways to expand access to effective addiction care, including contingency management and other behavioral economics-based approaches. She translates her research into policy and practice, working with healthcare and policy leaders to inform treatment guidelines and advance evidence-based addiction care.

WATCH: Lara Coughlin, Ph.D. discusses her work on contingency management and its impact on SUD care

More than half of U.S. adults now qualify for statins under new guidelines

More than half of U.S. adults ages 30–79—about 87.5 million people— now meet criteria for statins to help prevent heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular issues, according to a new study by Jeremy Sussman, M.D., M.Sc., associate professor of internal medicine, and colleagues. The findings reflect updated clinical guidelines that broaden statin eligibility by encouraging earlier treatment for patients with higher long-term cardiovascular risk. The change adds an estimated 21.5 million Americans to those recommended for statin therapy.

WATCH: Statin study: New guidelines mean cholesterol-lowering drugs are recommended for millions more in U.S.

Explainer: 7 things to know about Medicare’s new GLP-1-based medication coverage

Monthly Faculty News Digest

7 things every family caregiver should know—but many don’t

More than 60 million Americans provide unpaid care for an adult, whether for a few hours a month or several hours a day—often without identifying as caregivers. Yet many are unaware of programs that can ease stress and prevent caregiver burnout. The team behind the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging compiled tips for caregivers to find and access resources and services in their communities.

America at 250: How Public Health has Shaped the Course of our Nation's History

Tuesday, September 15 | 11:00 am–12:00 pm

Michigan League Ballroom

The U-M School of Public Health will host an expert panel exploring public health innovation in the United States, including the history of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and the school's own part in driving transformative change.