Products and Resources Catalog

The Role of Evidence-Based Prevention Strategies in Helping Address Addiction Robert Rogers, LADC, CCS, PS-A, LSW May 1, 2024, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION In this session, we will review evidence-based strategies for substance use prevention addressing alcohol, cannabis, vaping, and prescription drugs that local coalitions and prevention providers can implement in their communities. We will examine interest groups to collaborate and “work with” as we work on the prevention of substance use and discuss the importance of language in reducing stigma and bias related to substance use and the people impacted by the use of substances. LEARNING OBJECTIVES - Identify a minimum of 2 strategies for substance use prevention. (Substances covered include alcohol, cannabis, vaping, and prescription drugs.) - Identify a minimum of 3 interest groups to collaborate with on evidence-based prevention strategies. - Describe the importance of language in reducing stigma. PRESENTERS Robert Rogers, LADC, CCS, LSW, PS-A, has worked with youth and families throughout Somerset and Kennebec Counties since 1994. Robert works for Kennebec Behavioral Health as Director of Substance Use Prevention and Grant Services. He worked with Somerset Public Health as the Drug-Free Communities Program Coordinator, completing ten years of coalition work. Robert is a certified Prime for Life instructor and the State of Maine certified Responsible Beverage Seller trainer for the Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages & Lottery Operations. Robert also coordinates Respect ME, a Certified Domestic Violence Intervention Program for female survivors of domestic violence who used resistive violence with their intimate partners. Robert was appointed to the state Substance Abuse Service Commission, served by appointment on the state's Maine Opiate Collaborative Prevention and Harm Reduction team, served as Chair for the Maine Prevention Specialists Certification Board, and serves as a Maine representative on the New England Prevention Technology Transfer Center’s Advisory Board. Additionally, Robert is on the Board of Directors for AdCare of Maine and Sunset Home, a non-profit assisted living facility for older women in Waterville, Maine. Robert is an Adjunct Professor of Substance Use Prevention at the University of Maine at Farmington. Most recently, Governor Mills appointed Robert to the State of Maine Board of Alcohol & Drug Counselors and serves as the board's Chair. In 2021, Robert was awarded the Neill E. Miner Memorial Prevention Award, and in 2014 was awarded Prevention Provider of the Year by the Maine Alliance to Prevent Substance Abuse.  

HIV+ Patients and Substance Use Disorders – How to Provide Excellent Care Jim Winkle, MPH May 24, 2023, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION Medical and behavioral health professionals who work with HIV+ patients are in a unique position to help these patients reduce harm from substance use, but often feel at a loss how to do so effectively, in a limited amount of time, and without conveying judgement. HIV+ patients, meanwhile, may face stigma from health professionals, and may not relate to a singular focus on treatment programs. This presentation will improve the ability of primary care and specialty health professionals to screen for substance use disorders (SUDs) and perform a four-step brief intervention model that enhances the motivation of patients to reduce their risk of harm. As a result, clinicians will be better able to help these patients forge their own pathway to recovery. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Describe how SUDs impact HIV+ patients Demonstrate how to use a brief screening tool that identifies possible SUDs Demonstrate how to perform a four-step brief intervention that enhances the motivation of HIV+ patients to reduce harm from substance use Explain how principles of harm reduction can help mitigate provider stigma PRESENTERS Jim Winkle, MPH, has trained hundreds of behavioral health professionals how to address substance use with clients and patients. As the creator behind the SBIRT Oregon website, Jim has designed screening forms, clinic tools and training videos used by professionals across the country.  

Use of the veterinary drug xylazine is having a profound impact on the health of those who use illicit substances across the United States. Originally developed by the pharmaceutical company Bayer in 1962 as a large animal sedative containing a muscle relaxant with analgesic properties, xylazine was never intended for human consumption and therefore identified as a non-classified drug by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), requiring only a veterinarian’s prescription. In humans, xylazine acts on the central nervous system and may cause drowsiness, slowed breathing, decreased heart rate, lowered blood pressure, and even amnesia. So when did this veterinary drug enter into the street drug supply chain, and how did it get there?

Stimulants and Polysubstance Use Part 1: What the Data Shows Josh Esrick, MPP, and Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip March 28, 2023, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST COURSE DESCRIPTION This webinar will provide an overview of the current scope of stimulant and related polysubstance use in the United States and the states of the Central East region. It will include a review of use and overdose rates, as well as data on availability and accessibility of substances. The webinar will also discuss the differences between the current and prior waves of stimulant use. Finally, it will discuss what is known about the factors driving the current wave of use and data sources prevention professionals can use to obtain additional data. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Explain trends in stimulant and polysubstance use and consequences Describe similarities and differences between current and past stimulant use Identify the risk and protective factors for stimulant and polysubstance use Name relevant data sources to learn more about stimulant and polysubstance use PRESENTERS Josh Esrick, MPP is a Senior Policy Analyst with Carnevale Associates. Josh has extensive experience in substance use prevention; researching, writing, and presenting on best practice and knowledge development publications, briefs, and reference guides; and developing and providing T/TA to numerous organizations. He developed numerous SAMHSA Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies’ (CAPT) products on strategies to prevent opioid misuse and overdose, risk and protective factors for substance use, youth substance use prevention strategies, youth substance use trends, emerging substance use trends, the potential regulations surrounding marijuana legalization, as well as numerous other topics. Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip holds a Masters of Science in Abnormal and Clinical Psychology from Swansea University and a Postgraduate Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Edinburgh. She offers significant professional experience in the fields of public policy development and analysis, criminal justice research, data collection and analysis, program development, and performance management.  

Learn more about Prevention in Action exploring Drug Take Back Day events and related efforts to reduce the illicit use of prescription medications across New England. This webinar includes a spotlight on what coalitions around the region are doing to support drug take-back as well as a presentation from the DEA on their new and ongoing initiatives.   Link to view the recorded webinar (recorded on October 27, 2022). No continuing education is available.   

RECORDING: Laugh It Off: How Therapeutic Humor Can Work for You (And Your Communities)   Improve your outlook and reduce harmful stress through humor. That’s the message of this seriously funny workshop where you will get to practice applied therapeutic exercises that you can use every day to improve your wellbeing and the wellness of your clients and others around you. Research has shown that accessing humor and laughter directly after a stressful situation reduces stress hormones and creates lasting, positive feelings. Muscles relax, breathing changes, and the brain releases endorphins, natural painkillers, and other psychological benefits. Mallori and Lodge will teach you how to laugh off difficult times, and as a result turn the negative impacts of stress into the positive benefits of humor.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES: By the end of the webinar, participants will be able to… Identify how laughter is used to reduce stress. Develop a personalized humor application. Explore how humor can be a resource to strengthen psychological safety and build community   PRESENTERS:  Mallori DeSalle Mallori DeSalle is a licensed mental health counselor, an internationally certified prevention specialist, motivational interviewing trainer and a certified humor professional. As a speaker and trainer, she has sparked curiosity in both the young and young-at-heart. Her passion for creating a lasting impact led her to the public health field and for the past 14 years she has worked at Prevention Insights, a center within the School of Public Health at Indiana University, Bloomington.  Mallori works with people all over the world. She served on the Board of Directors for the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor and in 2021 became a TEDx speaker. Her credentials don’t impress her family, but occasionally her corny jokes do make them laugh.   Lodge McCammon Dr. Lodge McCammon is a therapeutic humorist, instructional designer, author, musician, and international education consultant who provides professional services, including keynote speeches, workshops, curriculum development, and a variety of training programs. He works with school districts, universities, nonprofits, and businesses (e.g., Palm Beach Schools, University of the West Indies, Discovery Education, Microsoft, Amazon, The Coca-Cola Company). Most recently, Lodge facilitated a month of therapeutic humor for the Nourished Teachers Community, which is a Facebook-funded initiative focused on helping educators cope with work stress and avoid burnout. He uses a program that he designed called “Laugh It Off!" to help his clients transform their daily frustrations into humor.

In this Issue:   Preventing Overdose: Challenges and Promising Approaches International Overdose Awareness Day, August 31 Overdose Prevention Resources   Texas Prevention - A New Name and A New Focus   What's Happening Around the Region?   Register: Ditching the Discomfort with Data Series, Part 4, Analyzing Data Products: Building a Youth Prevention System, A 3-part Webinar Series Register: Southern Plains Tribal Health Board Training Summit, August 23-25  National Latino and Behavioral Health PTTC events Register: National Latino Behavioral Health Conference, September 15-16 Register: Accelerating Training in Behavioral Health Equity: A Learning Series for Trainees

Stimulant use can become a major substance use issue in the Central East region1 and nationwide. Usage has risen over the past several years, stimulants have become cheaper and more potent, and stimulant-involved overdoses have increased dramatically. The opioid epidemic remains the region's more significant public health crisis, but prevention professionals should address stimulants before trends worsen. This document highlights recent trends as well as the increased impact on the Central East and what prevention professionals can do.

Stimulant Webinar Series Part 1: Recommendations for Addressing Stimulant Use: What the Data Shows Josh Esrick, MPP, and Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip November 10, 2021, 1-2:30 PM EST COURSE DESCRIPTION This webinar will provide an overview of the current scope of stimulant use in the United States and the states of the Central East Region. It will include a review of use and overdose rates, as well as supply-side data. The webinar will also discuss the differences between the current and prior waves of stimulant use. Finally, it will discuss what is known about the factors driving the current wave of use and data sources prevention professionals can use to obtain additional data. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Discuss trends in stimulant use and consequences Understand similarities and differences between current and past stimulant use Summarize the risk and protective factors for stimulant use Review relevant stimulant data sources PRESENTERS Josh Esrick, MPP is a Senior Policy Analyst with Carnevale Associates. Josh has extensive experience in substance use prevention; researching, writing, and presenting on best practice and knowledge development publications, briefs, and reference guides; and developing and providing T/TA to numerous organizations. He developed numerous SAMHSA Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies’ (CAPT) products on strategies to prevent opioid misuse and overdose, risk and protective factors for substance use, youth substance use prevention strategies, youth substance use trends, emerging substance use trends, the potential regulations surrounding marijuana legalization, as well as numerous other topics. Emily Patton, MSc, PgDip, holds a Masters of Science in Abnormal and Clinical Psychology from Swansea University and a Postgraduate Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Edinburgh. She offers significant professional experience in the fields of public policy development and analysis, criminal justice research, data collection and analysis, program development, and performance management.  

Introducing: Preventing Polysubstance Use in Primary Care Settings Josh Esrick, MPP August 10, 2021, 1-2 PM EST COURSE DESCRIPTION Polysubstance use is the recurrent use of multiple illicit substances, legalized substances, or prescription drugs in a manner other than as prescribed. Preventing polysubstance use is a key prevention priority due to its prevalence, consequences, and disproportionate impact among minority populations. Primary care providers can be a key collaborator in addressing polysubstance use, and substance use overall, due to their scope and influence among all populations. The Central East PTTC created a new infographic, Polysubstance Use in Primary Care Settings, to explain these concepts and overview prevention strategies for primary care providers. This webinar will introduce this infographic, explain why it was created, explore the information it provides, and answer audience questions about it. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Summarize the importance of addressing polysubstance use Discuss the role of primary care providers in prevention Overview primary care prevention strategies for polysubstance use Explore ways to use the Central East PTTC Infographic PRESENTER Josh Esrick, MPP is a Senior Policy Analyst with Carnevale Associates. Josh has extensive experience in substance use prevention; researching, writing, and presenting on best practice and knowledge development publications, briefs, and reference guides; and developing and providing T/TA to numerous organizations. He developed numerous SAMHSA Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies’ (CAPT) products on strategies to prevent opioid misuse and overdose, risk and protective factors for substance use, youth substance use prevention strategies, youth substance use trends, emerging substance use trends, the potential regulations surrounding marijuana legalization, as well as numerous other topics.

Happy December everyone! The holidays are here, and we wanted to share some words of encouragement to all of those who are striving for sober celebrations. #NHLATTC #NHLPTTC #Holidays #sobercelebrations #recoveryjourney #peersupport Disponible en Español ¡Feliz mes de diciembre a todos! Las fiestas están por comenzar, y queremos compartir algunas palabras de aliento a todos aquellos en recuperación que se esfuerzan por tener celebraciones libre de alcohol y drogas. #NHLATTC #NHLPTTC #Fiestas #celebracionessobrias #procesoderecuperación #apoyodecompañeros Disponible en Portugués Feliz dezembro à todos! As festas de final de ano estão chegando e gostaríamos de deixar algumas palavras de incentivo à todos aqueles em recuperação que estão se esforçando para ter celebrações sem álcool e drogas. #NHLATTC #NHLPTTC #Festas #sobercelebrations #recoveryjourney #peersupport

This webinar is one of the New England PTTC's prevention trainings. In this webinar (recorded April 29, 2020), participants will receive a detailed overview of each of the four products in the toolkit. No continuing education is available. Contact us if you have any questions.   Recorded Webinar - Preventing The Non-Medical Use Of Prescription Drugs In New England Presented by Sandra Del Sesto, M.Ed., ACPS with Megan Hawkes and Kim Magoon, Public Consulting Group Course Summary: Increases in the non-medical use of prescription drugs (NMUPD) and opioid misuse overall, have many New England communities increasingly focusing on these problems as a prevention priority. In order to address these problems, prevention practitioners must understand the factors that contribute to the problems and the strategies that have been effective in addressing those factors. This webinar will look at where to go to learn about risk and protective factors associated with prescription drug misuse, provide an overview of evidence-based strategies that address these factors, and begin to explore opportunities for forging the new partnerships needed to implement these strategies in New England.   Link to view the recorded webinar (recorded on April 29, 2020). No continuing education is available. 

The National Hispanic and Latino Prevention Technology Transfer Center is please to provide new fact sheets on Prevention Tools for Latino Families During COVID-19 to download and distribute. This fact sheet has been translated from English to both Spanish and Portuguese.  English About 55 million U.S. school children attend schools that have been closed or are being directly affected by the new coronavirus COVID-19 social distancing rules. The isolation, fear, not having enough support, lack of health access and the pressure that Hispanic and Latino parents and caregivers are facing are countless, leaving the children with so many questions, confusion and in many cases leaving them unattended. Substance abuse prevention starts with parents learning how to talk with their children about difficult topics. Download in English Español Alrededor de 55 millones de niños en los Estados Unidos están siendo directamente afectados por las nuevas reglas de distanciamiento social debido al COVID-19 y no están asistiendo a la escuela porque están cerradas como resultado del coronavirus. El aislamiento, el miedo, la falta de apoyo, la falta de acceso a servicios de salud y la presión que enfrentan los padres Hispanos y Latinos son innumerables, dejando a los niños con muchas preguntas, confusión y en muchos casos solos. La prevención del abuso de sustancias comienza cuando los padres aprenden a hablar con sus hijos sobre temas difíciles. Descargar en Español Português Cerca de 55 milhões de crianças em idade escolar nos EUA frequentam escolas que foram fechadas ou estão sendo diretamente afetadas pelas novas regras de distanciamento social do coronavírus COVID-19. O isolamento, o medo, a falta de apoio, a falta de acesso à saúde e a pressão que os pais e cuidadores hispânicos e latinos estão enfrentando são incontáveis, resultando em crianças com dúvidas, confusão e, em muitos casos, sem supervisão. A prevenção do abuso de substâncias começa quando os pais aprendem a conversar com seus filhos sobre tópicos difíceis.  Download em Português

The October 2019 Dialogue contains articles on: Addiction: National Addiction Treatment Week | Mental Health: Mental Illness Awareness Week | Prevention: Substance Abuse Prevention Week | ORN: Increasing Treatment Providers | Vaping. Additional sections include upcoming training and webinar events, behavioral health observances, new resources, Region 3 news, and New Resources. The Dialogue is designed to inform behavioral and mental health professionals of news and upcoming events in the Central East states. This electronic newsletter is disseminated on the first Tuesday of each month. You are encouraged to provide us with any feedback or submit articles and topics for discussion in future issues of the newsletter. If you would like to be added to our mailing list to receive the Dialogue, news, and training announcements, sign up here.          

The September 2019 Dialogue contains articles on: Addiction: National Recovery Month | Mental Health: Learning Collaboratives | Prevention: Prescription Opioid and Heroin Awareness | ORN: LGBT+ Long-term Recovery | Recovery Stories Additional sections include upcoming training and webinar events, behavioral health observances, new resources, and Region 3 news. The Dialogue is designed to inform behavioral and mental health professionals of news and upcoming events in the Central East states. This electronic newsletter is disseminated on the first Tuesday of each month. You are encouraged to provide us with any feedback or submit articles and topics for discussion in future issues of the newsletter. If you would like to be added to our mailing list to receive the Dialogue, news, and training announcements, sign up here.       Recovery Stories: Two special guest contributors shared their recovery stories for Recovery Month in the September Dialogue.   Shirley J. Davis For many years, I ran from the realities of my past life and tried extremely hard to hide from the knowledge that I continually lost time and felt like “someone else,” until the winter of my thirtieth year. I went to bed one night and as soon as I turned off the light to go to sleep, I relived a horrible memory of rape. I immediately turned the lights back on and lay shivering in my bed waiting for daylight. It was then that I knew I had to get help. Continue reading Shirley's story.     Kathy Dorman I’m so grateful to be a recovering addict, to still be alive to give others hope, because I remember the life of hopelessness. My passion is to reach children and young adults who may feel hopeless or peer pressured into trying drugs. As a child, I was surrounded by family and friends who were caught in the disease of addiction. I tell people, yes, I may have had a choice, but literally I had no chance, at least that’s how I felt. Continue reading Kathy's story.

The July 2019 issue of The Dialogue contains articles on: Addiction: Benzodiazepine Awareness (#W-BAD) | Mental Health: More than a Hashtag | Prevention: SAMHSA Apps to Support Prevention | ORN Chronic Pain | Region 3 Spotlight. Additional sections include upcoming training and webinar events, behavioral health observances, new resources, and Region 3 news. The Dialogue is designed to inform behavioral and mental health professionals of news and upcoming events in the Central East states. This electronic newsletter is disseminated on the first Tuesday of each month. You are encouraged to provide us with any feedback or submit articles and topics for discussion in future issues of the newsletter. If you would like to be added to our mailing list to receive the Dialogue, news, and training announcements, sign up here.

The April 2019 issue of The Dialogue contains articles on alcohol and cancer, mental health/depression in youth, using Take Back programs as prevention, preventionist monthly calls, the treatment gap, and the Native American and Alaska Native TTCs. Additional sections include upcoming training and webinar events, behavioral health observances, new resources, and Region 3 news.   The Dialogue is designed to inform behavioral and mental health professionals of news and upcoming events in the Central East states. This electronic newsletter is disseminated on the first Tuesday of each month. You are encouraged to provide us with any feedback or submit articles and topics for discussion in future issues of the newsletter. If you would like to be added to our mailing list to receive the Dialogue, news, and training announcements, sign up here.