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

June 2026

Greetings,

Welcome to the June edition of the MACS Monthly newsletter!

June marks Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month, a timely reminder to reflect on the profound impact of post-traumatic stress disorder among individuals navigating substance use disorders (SUDs). Data suggest that 30% to 60% of people living with SUD will experience PTSD at some point in their lives, a rate four to eight times greater than that of the general population (8%). Recognizing the reasons behind this elevated risk — including attempts to manage PTSD symptoms with substances, shared biological and environmental factors, and the potential for substance use to lead to trauma — is crucial for effective intervention.

MACS continues to support Maryland providers in building and strengthening trauma-informed approaches, including through resources like our Providing MOUD from a Trauma-Informed Perspective ECHO Sessions.

For support in caring for patients with co-occurring PTSD and SUDs, schedule an individualized consultation or register for an upcoming training with MACS. To learn more, call 1-855-337-MACS (6227), email macs@som.umaryland.edu or visit www.marylandmacs.org.

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

– The MACS Team

NEW FACT SHEET

We are sharing a new resource created by the MACS team: "Tele-MOUD Implementation Guide."

The new fact sheet provides a high-level overview of tele-Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (tele-MOUD) implementation. Evidence supports tele-MOUD in improving retention and reducing overdose risk, and this guide is designed to help providers, clinics and community partners adopt and scale these services.

You can also watch the recent webinar, "The Role of Telemedicine in Expanding Access to MOUD," presented by MACS Medical Director and Consultant Eric Weintraub, MD.

Fact Sheet: Tele-MOUD Implementation Guide

Webinar: The Role of Telemedicine in Expanding Access to MOUD

EDUCATION

Upcoming MACS Training Opportunities

MACS Webinar

Experience to Impact – Peer Recovery ECHO Introduction

Thursday, June 11 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Presented by MACS Consultant Devang Gandhi, MD, Director of BHA Office of Consumer Affairs Brendan Welsh and MACS ECHO Program Coordinator Qivon Annan

MACS for MOMs Presentation

An Overview of Treatment for Substance Use Disorders During Pregnancy

Monday, June 15 | 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

In-person attendance only

Presented by MACS for MOMs Medical Director Christopher Welsh, MD

MACS Webinar

Medetomidine Intoxication and Withdrawal

Monday, June 22 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Presented by Jordan Nahas-Vigon, MD, internist at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center and Johns Hopkins Hospital

MACS for MOMs Webinar

Postpartum Pain Management for People With Substance Use and Use Disorders

Tuesday, July 7 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Presented by MACS for MOMs Consultant Courtney Townsel, MD, MS

On-Demand Trainings

MACS Medical Director and Consultant Eric Weintraub, MD, is a contributing faculty member on a new, on-demand web course from the American Heart Association, "Leveraging TeleMOUD to Expand Access to Care in Rural and Underserved Areas."

The course explores the link between opioid use disorder and healthcare access in rural and underserved communities, covering the effectiveness of MOUD, innovative telehealth models like the University of Maryland's TeleMOUD program, and policy considerations such as the Ryan Haight Act.

The free course offers CME credits and is available through January 2029. Create a free account and register using the button below.

Upcoming Trainings of Interest

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Informed Care in Psychiatric Medication Use and Withdrawal

Wednesday, June 3 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

PCSS-MOUD and Opioid Response Network

PCSS-MOUD Clinical Roundtable: Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) for Substance Use Disorders in Primary Care Settings

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

Grayken Center for Addiction Training & Technical Assistance

Overamping (Psychostimulant overdose)

Thursday, June 4 | 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Yale Program in Addiction Medicine

Addiction Medicine Grand Rounds: Implementation Facilitation Improves Readiness for Emergency Department-Initiated Buprenorphine to Treat Opioid Use Disorder

Tuesday, June 23 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

American Society of Addiction Medicine

A Whole Person Approach: Adding Addiction Medicine Services to a Drug Treatment Court Program

Monday, June 29 | 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

MACS ECHO Sessions

Join our learning communities for continuous case-based discussions and didactic presentations linking expert specialist teams with healthcare providers and their practices. MACS ECHO sessions count toward the required 8-hours of SUD training for DEA license renewal or registration.

Opioid Treatment Program

Pain Management in Patients With Substance Use Disorders

Sarah Merritt, MD

Wednesday, June 3

12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Maternal Health

Postpartum Pain Management for People With Substance Use Disorders

Courtney Townsel, MD, MS

Tuesday, June 9

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Substance Use Care for the General Practitioner

Microdosing to Transition from Methadone to Buprenorphine

Devang Gandhi, MD

Wednesday, June 17

12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Providing MOUD from a Trauma-Informed Perspective

Addressing Adversity in the Treatment of Youth SUD

Marc Fishman, MD

Wednesday, June 24

12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

CONFERENCES & EVENTS

Maryland Pharmacists Association 144th Annual Convention

Friday, June 26 – Sunday, June 28

Princess Royale Oceanfront Resort | Ocean City, Maryland

MACS exhibit table

Maryland Academy of Physician Assistants 2026 Annual Conference

Wednesday, August 19 – Saturday, August 22

Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay | Cambridge, Maryland

MACS exhibit table

NEWS

Patient Navigation With Hospital Addiction Consultation and Patient-Directed Discharge

Co-authored by MACS Consultant Christopher Welsh, MD, this secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial examined whether a bedside patient navigation intervention, delivered alongside hospital addiction consultation services, could reduce the rate of patient-directed discharge (PDD) among hospitalized patients with comorbid substance use disorder (SUD) for opioids (78.5%), cocaine (53.5%), alcohol (35.3%) or a combination of these. Patients who received the NavSTAR patient navigation intervention were half as likely to leave the hospital before being medically cleared compared to those receiving addiction consultation alone, with unstable housing and infection-related admission identified as additional risk factors for PDD. Even when patients with SUD are already receiving specialized addiction consultation during a hospital stay, the addition of a bedside patient navigator — who builds trust and assists with discharge planning — can meaningfully reduce the risk of premature departure and support continuity of care.

Methadone Dose and Patient-Directed Discharge in Hospitalized Patients With Opioid Use Disorder

A recent retrospective cohort study examined whether higher early methadone doses reduced the risk of PDD among 554 hospitalized patients with opioid use disorder (OUD). Researchers found that each additional 10 mg of methadone received in the first 24 hours was associated with meaningfully lower odds of PDD at 48 hours. The findings underscore the importance of early and adequate methadone dosing to keep patients engaged in care.

A lifeline on wheels: perspectives of stakeholders on the implementation and impact of a mobile medications for opioid use disorder unit

A recent qualitative study explored stakeholder perspectives on a mobile health unit (MHU) delivering medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in Rhode Island. Researchers interviewed 15 participants — including MHU staff, clinic leadership, community partners and policymakers — about their experiences with the unit. Stakeholders praised the MHU for lowering barriers to care, particularly for people experiencing homelessness, and highlighted its role in fostering strong patient-provider relationships and connecting patients to harm reduction, primary care and social services. Key challenges included staffing shortages, inconsistent funding, limited clinical space and environmental barriers such as inclement weather.

Alcohol consumption and mental health in a dynamic longitudinal relationship in a general population sample: A bivariate latent change score model

This longitudinal study of 816 adults investigated the dynamic relationship between emotional well-being and alcohol use over a 12-month period. Using bivariate latent change score modeling, researchers found that better mental health at earlier assessments consistently predicted lower alcohol consumption in the future. Interestingly, the inverse was not true; changes in alcohol consumption did not significantly predict future changes in mental health within this general population sample of adults aged 18–64 living in northern Germany. These findings suggest that for average adults, boosting psychological stability may naturally curb alcohol intake. The study highlights a proactive opportunity for providers to reduce moderate drinking habits by prioritizing a patient’s emotional well-being as a primary intervention strategy.

Extended-Release vs Sublingual Buprenorphine in Pregnancy Through 12 Months Post Partum

A recent randomized clinical trial involving pregnant individuals found that extended-release (ER) buprenorphine is noninferior to the standard sublingual formulation for treating opioid use disorder through 12 months postpartum. Notably, participants receiving the ER injection demonstrated higher rates of illicit opioid abstinence during pregnancy and experienced fewer serious adverse events both pre- and post-birth. Regarding infant outcomes, researchers found no significant differences in the treatment of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) or the length of hospitalization between the two groups. These findings suggest that ER buprenorphine is a safe, effective, and potentially more stable alternative for peripartum patients, offering clinicians more flexibility in tailoring OUD treatment during and after pregnancy.

RESOURCES

A Global Glut in Cocaine Shocks the World (Psychology Today)

Community-Initiated Care in Behavioral Health: Exploring Funding Mechanisms for Substance Use Disorders (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)

Stimulant Overamping Basics (National Harm Reduction Coalition)

Updated MSBH Behavioral Health Resource Guide (Mid Shore Behavioral Health)

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