September/October 2018
National Institute of Mental Health
Monthly Update
MAMH is proud to partner with the National Institute of Mental Health to disseminate knowledge about science-based mental health each month. With each update, we offer emerging research, important dates and publications to be aware of, and opportunities to get involved in research.
Emerging Research and Updates
  • NIDA announced that the latest Monitoring the Future survey results are now available online, comparing substance use patterns of full-time college students to their non-college peers. Most notably, over 13% percent of young adults not in college report daily, or near daily, marijuana use; alcohol use is more common among college students; and some opioid use is declining in both groups.
  • The CDC announced new state grants for the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS). NVDRS will now receive data on violent deaths from all 50 states; Washington, DC; and Puerto Rico. States can use this data to develop and inform tailored prevention and intervention efforts to reduce violent deaths, including suicides and homicides. Read more here.
  • SAMHSA recently awarded up to $215.2 million over five years for justice-involved individuals who have mental and substance use disorders, which will be allocated to programs that provide effective treatment services to reduce further criminal justice involvement and to promote recovery for justice-involved individuals who have substance use disorders or co-occurring mental and substance use disorders. Read more here.
  • SAMHSA released the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). The annual survey comprises data that help provide a statistical context for the country’s opioid crisis and other behavioral health matters.
  • The FDA approved Cassipa (buprenorphine and naloxone) sublingual film (applied under the tongue) for the maintenance treatment of opioid dependence. This action provides a new dosage strength of buprenorphine and naloxone sublingual film, which is also approved in both brand name and generic versions and various strengths. Read more here.
New Publications and Resources
  • The Role of Pain Management in Recovery from Serious Mental Illness podcast offers providers practical tools and strategies for incorporating person-centered, strength-based approaches to pain management for persons in recovery from serious mental illness.
  • Clinical Decision Support for Prescribers Treating Individuals with Co-occurring Disorders: This two-course series offers practitioners tools, tips, and strategies for addressing the needs of individuals with serious mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders from a strength-based and recovery-oriented perspective. The American Academy of Family Physicians offers continuing education credits for the series.
  • SAMHSA’s Center for Mental Health Services’ Long-Term Recovery Workgroup, together with HRSA, offer two webinars that provide guidance on supporting older adults with complex medical and behavioral health needs before, during, and after a hurricane, which will be hosted in both English and Spanish. The webinars specifically focus on persons living in and near Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands but can be generalized to any major coastal storm.
  • This brief from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) provides an analysis of reported attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis and purchases of prescription drugs to treat ADHD.
Get Involved
  • During the month of September, mental health advocates, prevention organizations, survivors, and community members unite to promote suicide prevention awareness. Throughout the month of September, NIMH will post social media messages across Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Google+, and LinkedIn to promote educational suicide prevention resources and the Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
  • Each September, SAMHSA sponsors National Recovery Month to increase awareness and understanding of mental and substance use disorders, and to celebrate individuals living in recovery. This year’s theme is “Join the Voices for Recovery: Invest in Health, Home, Purpose, and Community.” The 2018 Recovery Month Toolkit and television and radio public service announcements are available to view and download. 
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