{"title":"Timothy Westlake headed for SAMHSA administrator position","authors":"Alison Knopf","doi":"10.1002/adaw.35059","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/adaw.35059","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Last week, the nomination of Timothy Westlake, M.D., to be director of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) was approved by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. The vote, held September 24, followed Westlake's consideration by the committee at a September 16 hearing. Westlake, a board-certified emergency medicine physician and public health official, is currently SAMHSA chief of staff. President Trump nominated Westlake for the position in July. The vote was tk. There has been no SAMHSA leader for almost two years.</p>","PeriodicalId":100073,"journal":{"name":"Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly","volume":"38 37","pages":"7-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149027767","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Update on parity","authors":"Alison Knopf","doi":"10.1002/adaw.35051","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/adaw.35051","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The U.S. Department of Labor has issued two documents, neither of which breaks new ground, on compliance with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). Under the final rule issued in 2013 implementing the law, the same factors must be used in determining benefits for mental and substance use disorders as are used for medical and surgical care. The Department of Labor did not leave clear guidance for insurance companies in terms of enforcement. However, there are three priorities for enforcement for the agency.</p>","PeriodicalId":100073,"journal":{"name":"Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly","volume":"38 36","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148994423","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"In Case You Haven't Heard…","authors":"","doi":"10.1002/adaw.35053","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/adaw.35053","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Despite what you may have heard (see https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adaw.34880), the “integration” that is happening in New York State is not a merger of agencies. The Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) and the Office of Mental Health are not merging. Evan Frost, director of communications and public information at OASAS told <i>ADAW</i> that there was no plan to merge the agencies. Rather, both agencies are developing a new integrated license under Article 36 of the Mental Hygiene Law. Frost compares this license to that of the state's crisis stabilization centers. “This is part of the agencies' efforts to have a continuum of services for individuals with co-occurring disorders,” said Frost. “The new license is a collaborative effort between the two agencies, which includes working together on the licensing process, with both agencies responsible for providing oversight and guidance and conducting joint site visits. Programs would have the ability to apply for this integrated license, or they could obtain a separate a license to provide either mental health under the existing Article 31 of the Mental Hygiene Law, or substance use services under Article 32 of Mental Hygiene Law.” Thanks for the clarification, Evan.</p>","PeriodicalId":100073,"journal":{"name":"Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly","volume":"38 36","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148994424","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Commentary on Canadian study on timing of methadone take-homes","authors":"Alison Knopf","doi":"10.1002/adaw.35049","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/adaw.35049","url":null,"abstract":"<p>A study published in <i>JAMA Internal Medicine</i> found that initiating take-home dosing of methadone after treatment induction was associated with a reduction in treatment dropouts, as well as a reduction in deaths, compared to no take-homes. The study, “Timing of Initiation of Methadone Take-Home Dosing,” authored by Belal Hossain, M.D., and colleagues, controlled for confounding factors. Completion of induction was defined as two weeks with no change in daily dose, which translated to about four weeks after methadone induction for most patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":100073,"journal":{"name":"Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly","volume":"38 36","pages":"4-6"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148994427","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Pennsylvania county advances radically transformed care system","authors":"Gary Enos","doi":"10.1002/adaw.35048","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/adaw.35048","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Seeing the current state of substance use treatment as episodic, poorly coordinated and daunting for patients to navigate, leaders in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania are embarking on a plan to turn the treatment system on its ear. A key component of the Allegheny Recovery Partnership Plan will require the western Pennsylvania county's contracted residential and outpatient treatment providers to work more closely with each other to ensure effective handoffs and reduce barriers to care.</p>","PeriodicalId":100073,"journal":{"name":"Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly","volume":"38 36","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148994426","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Coming Up…","authors":"","doi":"10.1002/adaw.35052","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/adaw.35052","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The <b>National Conference on Addiction Recovery Science (CoARS)</b> will be held <b>September 23-24</b> virtually. The conference is sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. For more information, go to https://www.recoveryanswers.org/coarsconference/</p>","PeriodicalId":100073,"journal":{"name":"Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly","volume":"38 36","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148994447","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Questions about Medicaid work requirements SUD medical frailty loom","authors":"Alison Knopf","doi":"10.1002/adaw.35047","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/adaw.35047","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The Medicaid work requirements imposed by H.R. 1 (the Big Beautiful Bill) mean that Medicaid won't be granted unless people can attest to working. There are “medical frailty” exemptions which apply to people with substance use disorder (SUD). Anyone in recovery for five years or more from SUD is not eligible. But how this will all be proven is unclear.</p>","PeriodicalId":100073,"journal":{"name":"Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly","volume":"38 36","pages":"1-4"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148994425","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Mrs. and Mr. Smith go to Washington","authors":"Rob Kent Esq.","doi":"10.1002/adaw.35050","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/adaw.35050","url":null,"abstract":"<p>“I wouldn't give you two cents for all your fancy rules if, behind them, they didn't have a little bit of plain, ordinary, everyday kindness and a little looking out for the other fella, too.” The fictional Sen. Jefferson Smith, as played by Jimmy Stewart in the 1939 movie.</p>","PeriodicalId":100073,"journal":{"name":"Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly","volume":"38 36","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148994404","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Faith-based provider ordered to pay residents who engaged in free labor","authors":"Gary Enos","doi":"10.1002/adaw.35039","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/adaw.35039","url":null,"abstract":"<p>A Massachusetts affiliate of the faith-based addiction treatment organization Adult & Teen Challenge is being ordered to pay restitution to hundreds of treatment clients who performed fundraising work and manual labor for the provider without compensation. The citations against Adult & Teen Challenge, Northeast were based largely on a determination from state labor regulators that activities such as office cleaning, snow shoveling and telephone fundraising for program participants were not rehabilitative in nature and therefore were subject to minimum wage requirements.</p>","PeriodicalId":100073,"journal":{"name":"Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly","volume":"38 35","pages":"1-6"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148943151","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Treat alcohol and opioid concurrent withdrawal with buprenorphine: Study","authors":"Alison Knopf","doi":"10.1002/adaw.35044","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/adaw.35044","url":null,"abstract":"<p>A study of patients admitted to an acute psychiatric unit for concurrent alcohol and opioid withdrawal found that those initiated on buprenorphine within 24 hours had the lowest rate of patient-directed discharge (PDD), otherwise known as leaving treatment against medical advice. The study highlighted the importance of treating both alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorder concurrently. Despite the well-established evidence that treating each disorder is effective, there is limited research on concurrently treating both, according to the authors of “Impact of Time to Buprenorphine Initiation on Patient-Directed Discharge in Concurrent Alcohol and Opioid Withdrawal,” published in the AMERSA publication <i>Substance Use & Addiction Journal</i> online August 14. Treating patients who are going through both alcohol and opioid withdrawal with buprenorphine has benefits for patients and facilities, concluded the research, led by Sean Blaeser, Pharm.D., and colleagues. For the article, the researchers conducted a single-center retrospective study of patients admitted to the acute psychiatry unit from January 2019 through September 2023 who were at risk for concurrent alcohol and opioid withdrawal. The 322 patients were divided into four cohorts depending on time from admission to buprenorphine administration: 0 to 24 hours (n = 85), 24 to 72 hours (n = 44), greater than 72 hours (n = 16), and those who did not receive buprenorphine (n = 187). Of all admissions meeting inclusion criteria, 43.7% (n = 145) received buprenorphine. Those who did not receive buprenorphine had higher rates of PDD than those who did not (15.5% [n = 29] vs. 6.9% [n = 10]). They also had higher PDD rates than those who initiated buprenorphine between 24 and 72 hours versus 0 to 24 hours of admission (11.4% [n = 5] vs. 5.9% [n = 5]). Absence of buprenorphine initiation also resulted in higher inpatient readmission rates at both 30 (25.1% [n = 47] vs. 11.0% [n = 16]) and 90 days (46% [n = 86] vs. 24.1% [n = 35]).</p>","PeriodicalId":100073,"journal":{"name":"Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly","volume":"38 35","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148943152","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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