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

January 2023

Dear Anna,

Happy New Year! Over the holidays, President Biden signed an omnibus that included the Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) and Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Acts. The bills were passed to expand access to life saving medication for the treatment of opioid use disorder and normalize and enhance substance use care across healthcare settings.

Please stay tuned for more detailed information from MACS about this landmark legislation. As always, MACS is here to support you and your healthcare team in caring for patients with substance use disorders and pain management.

Thank you for all that you do,

The MACS Team

EDUCATION

MACS ECHO Clinics | Fall/Winter Cycle

This fall through winter, join our virtual ECHO learning communities for continuous case-based discussions and didactic presentations linking expert specialist teams with healthcare providers and their practices.

Maternal Health ECHO Clinic

Co-occurring psychiatric disorders

January 10 | 8:00 am

Opioid Treatment Program ECHO Clinic

Knowing your local opioid supply: Cuts, buffs, and future directions from quinine to isotonitazene

January 11 | 12:30 pm

Primary Care ECHO Clinic

Providing primary care to patients on methadone

January 18 | 12:30 pm

Upcoming Trainings

CDC Opioid Guidelines: 2022 Updates Webinar

January 12 | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

pregnant person and doctor talking on couch

MACS for MOMs Webinar: Psychiatric Medications in Pregnancy

February 7, 2023 | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Conferences

MDAFP Annual Meeting & Winter Refresher

MACS will be tabling

February 23- 26 | Annapolis, MD

More info

MD-DCASAM Annual Meeting and Educational Program

March 4, 2023 | TBD

More info

ASAM Annual Conference: Innovations in Addiction Medicine and Science

MACS will be tabling

April 13 - 16, 2023 | National Harbor, MD

More info

NEWS

Top news story of 2022: The Troubling Decline in Life Expectancy

The U.S. spends much more per-person on healthcare than any other large wealthy country, yet its residents have a shorter life expectancy. Forbes highlighted the top news story, citing rising maternity mortality and fatal overdoses as some of the top neglected public health issues contributing to the troubling decline in life expectancy.

Prenatal cocaine exposure and substance use disorder in emerging adulthood at age 21

This study examined the association of prenatal cocaine exposure with SUD in emerging adulthood, and whether childhood externalizing behaviors and adolescent substance use mediated the relationship.

Pandemic may have led to changes in buprenorphine treatment initiation, retention

"While more U.S. patients received buprenorphine for opioid use disorder between March 13 and Dec. 1, 2020, than during the same period in 2019, there were about 17% fewer new prescriptions than expected, a recent study found."

Buprenorphine versus Methadone for Opioid Use Disorder in Pregnancy

"Opioid agonist therapy is strongly recommended for pregnant persons with opioid use disorder. Buprenorphine may be associated with more favorable neonatal and maternal outcomes than methadone, but existing data are limited."