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Dear Anna,
During National Nurse Practitioner Week (November 10 – 16), MACS is celebrating the vital role of the 385,000+ nurse practitioners (NPs) nationwide who deliver patient-centered care in hospitals, emergency departments, urgent care centers, nursing homes and private practices. As primary care providers, NPs play a crucial part in addressing substance use disorder, often serving as the initial point of contact for patients seeking treatment. MACS is proud to support these dedicated healthcare professionals in their efforts to combat substance use disorder and manage chronic pain for their patients, offering expertise and resources to enhance their life-changing work.
November is also National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, highlighting the intersectionality of the overdose epidemic and revealing the needs of individuals across all stages of life. Approximately 20% of adults 65 and over will experience mental health conditions, but despite these needs, less than 50% of older adults with mental health conditions and/or substance use disorders receive treatment (1). A growing body of research also suggests that substance use and related harms are becoming more prevalent for older adults compared to younger, including cigarette smoking and fatal opioid overdose rates (2, 3).
In late September, MACS attended the Hospice & Palliative Care Network of Maryland Annual Conference. In addition to members of our team sharing resources about how MACS supports providers working in hospice and palliative care programs, MACS Consultant Michael Fingerhood, MD, delivered a presentation on Benzodiazepine Use in the Older Adult Population.
Finally, in addressing the evolving landscape of substance use disorders, MACS is pleased to share a valuable resource with healthcare providers in Maryland. Our Xylazine and Opioid Use Fact Sheet provides critical information on the prevalence, characteristics and harms associated with xylazine, as well as essential resources to support patients affected by its use. This comprehensive guide aims to enhance healthcare professionals' understanding and response to the challenges posed by xylazine and opioid use in our communities. In addition, through Maryland's Office of Overdose Response, the Maryland Department of Health continues to address xylazine use through resources to providers and equips them with information needed to keep their patients safe.
Explore this newsletter and the tools available on the MACS website for additional information about provider education and treatment resources.
The MACS Team
1. Committee on the Mental Health Workforce for Geriatric P, Board on Health Care S, Institute of M. In: Eden J, Maslow K, Le M, Blazer D, eds. The Mental Health and Substance Use Workforce for Older Adults: In Whose Hands? National Academies Press (US)
2. Kleykamp BA, Kulak JA. Cigarette Use Among Older Adults: A Forgotten Population. Am J Public Health. Jan 2023;113(1):27-29. doi:10.2105/ajph.2022.307151
3. Kariisa M, Davis NL, Kumar S, et al. Vital signs: drug overdose deaths, by selected sociodemographic and social determinants of health characteristics—25 states and the District of Columbia, 2019–2020. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2022;71(29):940.
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