819: First Substance Use Disorder Treatment Month, Power of One App Launches

JANSON SILVERS: 

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Thursday, January 9, 2025. I'm Janson Silvers. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

YNGVILD OLSEN: 

So, we are really excited to launch the first Substance Use Disorder Treatment Month.

SILVERS: 

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA, is recognizing this January as the first-ever Substance Use Disorder Treatment Month. Dr. Yngvild Olsen is with SAMHSA.

OLSEN: 

We have Recovery Month in September, we have Mental Health Awareness Month in May, we have Substance Use Prevention Month in October. But there's never really been a Substance Use Disorder Treatment Month, so it's an opportunity for us to raise awareness.

SILVERS: 

Olsen says, SAMHSA hopes to accomplish a few different goals with this month.

OLSEN: 

First and foremost, we really want to raise awareness and let people know that there are effective treatments, including medications, for substance use disorders, that can help them achieve their goals really addressing that health condition and living healthier lives.

SILVERS: 

Another goal is the reduction of stigma.

OLSEN: 

And we really want to use it as an opportunity to reduce stigma, particularly with the use of medications as part of treatment for a substance use disorder.

SILVERS: 

SAMHSA has more information on Substance Use Disorder Treatment Month on their website. We have a link to that in the show notes.

With the help of the CDC's Youth Violence Prevention Grant, Colorado has launched an app for youth that addresses the potential risk factors for violence. Dr. Beverly Kingston leads the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence. The organization played a key role in the development of the Power of One app.

BEVERLY KINGSTON: 

So, the app is a way for youth to watch out for each other by connecting their peers that may need help or support to trusted community resources. It's anonymous. It's answered 24/7, and the tips- so we call those tips 'connections'- they get referred to peer navigators.

SILVERS: 

The app focuses on the root causes of violence.

KINGSTON: 

The app aims to address concerns that can be risk factors for violence, so when basic needs such as food and housing aren't met, that can cause toxic levels of stress for youth and their families, and those are factors that, in some circumstances, can contribute to violence or other harmful behaviors like substance misuse.

SILVERS: 

They also worked closely with youth to develop the app and took their input seriously.

KINGSTON: 

We were originally, you know, calling it a bystander reporting system, and they said, "No way. We don't like the word bystander. We don't like the word reporting. We want to call it, you know, connecting youth to resources. We want to call the tips 'connections.'"

SILVERS: 

The app is still in the pilot phase, but you can learn more about the initiative by clicking the link in the show notes.

Also, an episode of the Public Health Review podcast tells you more about the Healthy Brain Initiative and how your team can improve brain health with data-driven solutions. Use the link in the show notes to listen today.

Finally, as always, a lot is happening on Capitol Hill that affects public health. Stay in-the-know on every piece of legislation that could affect you and your team by signing up for ASTHO's Legislative Alerts. The alerts keep you informed on federal and state legislation, and could be invaluable for your team. The link to sign up is in the show notes.

That'll do it for today. We're back tomorrow morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Janson Silvers. You're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great day.