Weekly COVID-19 Fact Sheets for Behavioral Health Providers

Each week, the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) will produce a fact sheet with the most recently available COVID-19 information. This week, you’ll see the planned vaccine schedule for Ohioans aged 65 and older and a link to an online resource to learn how to contact vaccine providers. Also on the fact sheet are helpful resources that you can use to learn more, talking points you can use when speaking on coronavirus, and suggested social media posts that can be used on your platforms. Click HERE to view this week’s edition. The fact sheet will be distributed via future NewsNow emails.

HHS Expands Access to Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder, Eliminates X-Waiver Requirement

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday announced that it will publish new guidelines that will expand access to medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder by exempting physicians from certain certification requirements necessary for prescribing buprenorphine. The Practice Guidelines for the Administration of Buprenorphine for Treating Opioid Use Disorder include an exemption from certain requirements under the Controlled Substances Act for physicians who are licensed under state law and possess DEA registration. Additional details of the exemption include:

• It only applies to physicians who may only treat patients who are located in states where they are licensed to practice.
• Physicians will be limited to treating no more than 30 patients with buprenorphine for OUD at a given time.
• The exemption applies only to the prescription of drugs or formulations covered under the X-waiver of the Controlled Substances Act, and does not apply to the prescription, dispensation or use of methadone to treat OUD.
• Physicians must place an “X” on prescriptions and clearly identify the prescription is being written for the treatment of OUD.

A working group will monitor implementation and results of the guidelines, including potential changes in medication diversion. Ohio physicians interested in obtaining an MAT waiver can get free training from the Providers Clinical Support System.

Ohio AAP Injury Prevention Plus SEEK Program

The Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics is enrolling practices for Wave 3 of the Injury Prevention Plus SEEK (Safe Environment for Every Kid) Learning Collaborative. The six-month learning collaborative teaches physicians how to implement a hybrid of the Ohio AAP’s Injury Prevention Screening Tool and the nationally recognized SEEK Tool, allowing physicians to more efficiently and effectively screen for child abuse and mental health risks, as well as the most common injury risks for children birth to five years of age. Ohio AAP is particularly interested in enrolling a practice that serves a large Spanish-speaking population. For an in-depth introduction to the program, consider joining the Central Oho Pediatric Society’s (COPS) virtual meeting on Jan. 27 for a presentation on “Social Determinants of Health and Practical Applications for Counseling in the Primary Care Setting.” The meeting is free for all to attend. Email Olivia Simon at osimon@ohioaap.org for meeting login information.

2020 Ohio Adult Allies Summit Presentations Available Online

More than 200 prevention professionals attended the 2020 Ohio Adult Allies Summit hosted by Prevention Action Alliance on Dec. 2. In case you missed it, or would like to view the sessions again, recordings of the presentations are available HERE. Download a copy of the presenter slides and access follow up materials from speakers Albert Gay and Dr. Chris Hulleman HERE.

National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week (NDAFW) 2021 – March 22-28

Mark your calendars! The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism are partnering to coordinate National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week (NDAFW) on March 22-28. This annual awareness event is a week-long health observance highlighting the science-based facts about how drugs and alcohol affect the brain and body. While NDAFW may look different this year, NIDA has ideas and resources to support your virtual or socially distanced activities. OhioMHAS encourages all of its partners to plan educational activities for youth in your community in recognition of NDAFW. Register your event online to join the national conversation and network of event planners supporting youth. Need help to get started? Here are five steps to hosting an NDAFW event. NIDA staff are available to help you plan a successful event. If you have questions about NDAFW, please contact Brian Marquis at bmarquis@nida.nih.gov.

In the News

1.18.21 | Lancaster Eagle-Gazette Central Ohio ministry offers a path forward for those fighting addiction
1.18.21 | NPR ‘I’ve tried everything’: pandemic worsens child mental health crisis
1.18.21 | Warren Tribune-Chronicle Overdoses crept back up in 2020
1.17.21 | Lorain Morning Journal Lorain county recovery board offers free training to help those with opioid addiction
1.17.21 | The Wall Street Journal A workout for your mental health
1.17.21 | Dayton Daily News Ohio opioid deaths at 10 year high start of pandemic
1.17.21 | PsychHub360 Gender differences in the mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic
1.16.21 | Canton Repository Faith-based ‘super-duper sober living home’ opens Monday
1.15.21 | WTOV-TV Family Recovery Center offers QPR training to Buckeye Local High School students
1.15.21 | Pomeroy Daily Sentinel Grants awarded to strengthen youth resiliency in Appalachian Ohio
1.15.21 | Findlay Courier Ohio 4-H shifts focus to mental health
1.15.21 | Cincinnati Business Courier Child Focus establishes 24/7 mobile crisis team
1.15.21 | Wexner Medical Center Behavioral Health Immediate Care Program seeks to fill gaps in access to care
1.15.21 | Wexner Medical Center The Ohio First Responders Stress and Health Study
1.15.21 | Wexner Medical Center Tackling an epidemic within a pandemic
1.15.21 | Wexner Medical Center Treating advanced depression with stimulation therapies
1.15.21 | The New York Times Reimagine your relationship to alcohol
1.15.21 | Lima News Children Services, Coleman partner to help families battle substance abuse
1.15.21 | Bryan Times ADAMHS Board plans spending for $917K in federal funds
1.15.21 | Spectrum News1 New initiative to tackle K-12 mental health emergency room visit spike
1.14.21 | Lorain Morning Journal Mental Health First Aid Statewide Collaborative announces training milestone