News Archive

Unhealthy Alcohol Use - New Resources on AHRQ Academy Portal

The Unhealthy Alcohol Use (UAU) Tools and Resources collection recently expanded by 142 new tools and resources. The additional items address: Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral…

New Substance Use Resources Released by the AHRQ Academy

The AHRQ Academy recently updated the MAT for OUD Tools and Resources collection. There were 65 new uploads primarily focused on the topics of Stimulant Use Disorder and Polysubstance…

ASAM Criteria 4th Edition Draft Standards Open for Public Comment

The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) released their 4th Edition Draft Standards of The ASAM Criteria® for public comment. These are the national standards for addiction…

Advancing Health Equity While Integrating Behavioral Health in Primary Care - AHRQ Academy Releases New Guide

Underlying social, economic, and environmental inequities in relation to housing, education, food access, employment, and safety are central factors in creating disparities in health and…

Pregnant and Postpartum Women and Behavioral Health Integration - AHRQ Academy Releases New Resources

Pregnant and postpartum women who have a behavioral health condition are less likely to receive adequate care compared to women who are not pregnant or postpartum.[1],[2] Left untreated,…

Addressing Polysubstance in Primary Care - AHRQ Academy Releases New Resources

Pregnant and postpartum women who have a behavioral health condition are less likely to receive adequate care compared to women who are not pregnant or postpartum.[1],[2] Left untreated,…

Overdose Awareness and Prevention – Federal Strategies

From 2019 to 2020, drug overdose deaths increased 30% in the United States, reaching 91,799.[1] In 2021, drug overdose deaths reached an estimated all-time high of 107,622.[2] To…

Using Telehealth for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment May Reduce Overdose Risk - New Study

Telehealth flexibilities were expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic to facilitate access to the medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) for individuals in treatment for opioid use…

Integrated Behavioral Health - A Solution for the Youth Mental Health Crisis

As youth and young adult mental health worsens, the need for integrated behavioral health in pediatric primary care settings grows. In a 2020 national survey of parents by the Ann …

Health Inequities Worsen Disparities in Overdose Death Rates

In 2020, there were 91,799 drug overdose deaths in the United States, an overall increase of 30% from 2019.[1] Key differences emerge when examining overdose death rates by race and…

Fentanyl: A Key Factor in Soaring Overdose Deaths Increasing Access to Test Strips: A Vital Factor in Harm Reduction

Drug overdose deaths increased 30% in the United States from 2019 to 2020, reaching 91,799.[1] The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that there were 107,622 drug…

Opioid Use Among Older Adults - AHRQ Releases New Resources and Data

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has released new resources and data on opioid use among elderly adults (ages 65 and older). The latest Medical Expenditure…

Unmet Behavioral Health Care Needs in the Past Year Revealed in Survey

The National Council for Wellbeing’s 2022 Access to Care Survey, a national online survey of more than 2,000 U.S. adults, found that 43% of U.S. adults who reported needing substance use…

Improving Diagnosis and Treatment of Adult Depression through Digital Healthcare – Discussed in AHRQ Webinar

On June 15, 2022, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) held an expert panel discussion on efforts to improve adult depression diagnosis and treatment using digital…

Telehealth for Pain Management and OUD/SUD Meeting Series Convened by the National Academy of Medicine

The National Academy of Medicine’s Action Collaborative on Countering the U.S. Opioid Epidemic convened a four-part meeting series on telehealth and virtual care for pain management,…

AHRQ Behavioral Health Topic Page Features Academy Resources

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has launched a new topic page highlighting its behavioral health research, data, and tools and resources. This page features…

AHRQ’s New Handbook Supports Use of Health IT in Primary Care Practices

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has released a new handbook for health information technology (IT) advisors, practice facilitators, and other staff that provide…

Increased Federal Funding Supports AHRQ Academy Priority Areas

For fiscal year (FY) 2022, the Biden Administration invested $10.7 billion in the Department of Health and Human Services, including funding to expand access to harm reduction and mental…

Evaluating Mental Health Apps - AHRQ Develops New Framework

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has developed and pilot tested a framework to help providers, caregivers, patients, advocacy organizations, payers, healthcare…

Behavioral Health Integration for Perinatal Health - National Council for Wellbeing Webinar Series

Untreated mental health and substance use disorders pose significant risks to pregnant women, postpartum women, and infants. Models of care that offer integrated behavioral health…

New NIH NIAAA Resource To Improve Care for Patients with Unhealthy Alcohol Use

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has just launched The Healthcare Professional’s Core Resource on Alcohol, an online resource designed to help healthcare…

Promoting Integrated Behavioral Health During Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AANHPIHM). This year's theme is "Building Legacy Together: Our Communities' Journey of Strength and…

Promoting Integrated Behavioral Health During National Prevention Week

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)’s National Prevention Week (NPW) helps to promote mental health awareness and substance use prevention. NPW takes…