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Treatment Services for Older Adults with Substance Use Disorders
As the leader of Odyssey House, one of the largest non-profit residential and outpatient treatment providers in New York City, I have witnessed firsthand the growing need for specialized services tailored to those struggling with addiction, including older adults. While substance use disorders can...
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Chronic Pain and Its Impacts: An Overview & Possible Management Options
When a person goes through depression, the impact of that weight can manifest in the form of physical pain and other bodily discomfort. On the other hand, chronic pain has a significant effect on behavioral health. Recurring physical pain can lead to mood swings, lack of appetite, lack of...
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Suffering Across Settings: Multidimensional Care for Chronic Pain
The multidimensional suffering encompassed by chronic pain conditions, combined with their prevalence, demands a multidisciplinary approach to management. The direct impact that chronic pain has on physical distress, as well as emotional state, sleep, stress levels, and coping systems, highlights...
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Behavioral Health News Spotlight on Excellence: An Interview with Mary Brewster, Associate Commissioner for Harm Reduction at the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS)
Overview David Minot, Executive Director of Mental Health News Education, the non-profit organization that publishes Behavioral Health News, interviewed Mary Brewster, Associate Commissioner for Harm Reduction at the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS). The mission of...
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Inclusivity in Recovery: How Federation Adapts Addiction Services to Diverse Communities
In the vital world of recovery services, there are many details to an individual’s history and health that should be considered in order to provide a comprehensive care plan. One detail in particular isn’t typically prioritized when it comes to environmental impact of an individual’s...
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The Opioid Epidemic: Helping Communities in Crisis
The opioid epidemic has impacted our families, friends, and communities. The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) estimates that 1 in 13 New York State residents suffer from a substance abuse disorder.1 Among NYS residents, the number of overdose deaths involving any...
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Harm Reduction: A Bridge Back to Life
Harm reduction is a decades-long, well-established, effective tool in reducing illnesses, deaths, and other negative consequences of problematic substance use (Jones et al., 2022). This approach has never been more important as in the current overdose crisis (Perera et al., 2022). Harm reduction...
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On International Overdose Awareness Day, HHS Announces Awarding of $79.1 Million in Overdose Prevention Grants
On International Overdose Awareness Day, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is announcing the awarding of $79.1 million in overdose prevention grants, as part of President Biden’s National Drug...
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U.S. Law Enforcement Seizures of Pills Containing Fentanyl Increased Dramatically Between 2018-2021
Law enforcement seizures of pills containing illicit fentanyl increased dramatically between January 2018 and December 2021, according to a new study. The number of individual pills seized by law enforcement increased nearly 50-fold from the first quarter of 2018 to the last quarter of 2021 and the...
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NYC Community-based Behavioral Health Organizations and NYC Health + Hospitals Receive $10.49 million from NYS OASAS to Tackle the Opioid and Stimulant Use Epidemic in the Bronx, Manhattan and Queens
The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) has awarded up to $10.49 million to the Citywide Addiction Support Network (CASN) to expand services to reduce opioid and stimulant use in historically underserved Bronx, Manhattan and Queens communities. Starting next spring,...
