DearColleague.us

Letter


Sending Office: Honorable Rosa L. DeLauro
Sent By:
Sarah.Laven@mail.house.gov

The Opioid Epidemic’s Impact: Substance Use Disorders in Underserved Communities

Thursday, May 17, 2018         11am-12:15pm          Rayburn #2226

Dear Colleague,

Please join us for a discussion on the impact of the opioid epidemic among underserved communities. A Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) 2018 Capitol Hill Policy Briefing Series event.

Over 60,000 individuals die from drug and opioid overdoses each year in the US, an accidental cause of death that can be prevented with treatment. Unfortunately, access to treatment is surrounded by many challenges like Medicaid limitations, special requirements,
and the lack of healthcare professionals in the mental illness and substance use disorders (SUD) field.

To date, there is very little research on the history of SUDs in the Hispanic community, making it difficult to determine the impact of the opioid epidemic among this community. According to the National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs), Hispanics
were more likely to have a need for substance use treatment, yet among those who needed they were less likely than non-Hispanics to receive specialty treatment.

This policy brief focuses on highlighting the hurdles individuals in underserved communities face when trying to access addiction treatment, and will discuss the impact of the opioid epidemic among the Hispanic community. Lastly, this brief will discuss
recommendations to help create programs that are more culturally sensitive and that promote the collection data from minority communities to better assess the impact of SUDs. Please RSVP here.

Speakers will include:

  • Nick Szubiak, MSW, LCSW, Assistant Vice President, Addiction and Recovery

National Council for Behavioral Health

  • Patrice A. Harris, MD, MA, Immediate Past Chair

American Medical Association

  • Justine Maas, CSC-AD, CMA, Director of NAMA- R Maryland Chapter

National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery

  • Patricia Schleeter, Person in Recovery

Recovery Support Specialist for Calvert County

 

Sincerely,

Rosa L. DeLauro
Member of Congress

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