ADAI News

Standing for Native American Health Care Equity

"This week Americans will imagine an almost mythological scene of pilgrims sharing a meal with the Plymouth natives. This Thanksgiving, however, a more accurate portrayal of Native-settler relations is on display. The Standing Rock standoff regarding the Dakota Access Pipeline reflects the longstanding tension between Native American livelihood and European American ideals of progress and industry. It further reflects the complex relationship between Native American nations and the U.S. government—where tribes have relative sovereignty but are still very much under the jurisdiction of the federal government.

This complex relationship is likewise reflected in healthcare provision for Native Americans. The 1976 Indian Health Care Improvement Act, which was recently reauthorized, aimed at “providing the highest possible health status to Indians and to provide existing Indian health services with all the resources necessary to affect that policy.” The U.S. Government has failed tremendously in these aspirations, as Native Americans have enormous health inequities along with generally inadequate access to needed services. These inequities include much higher rates of tuberculosis (750% higher), diabetes (420%), accidents (280%), and suicides (190%). In addition, alcohol and drug problems are significantly higher than the general population, including 7-8 times higher rates of alcohol-related deaths than the general population and the highest opioid overdose rate among racial/ethnic groups in the nation."

Commentary by Dennis Wendt, PhD, a post-doctoral fellow with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine, doing research with the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute. The comments are based on [his] experiences as a (White) psychologist and addiction researcher working with Native Americans in the context of mental health and substance use considerations.

Read the full article on Public Health Post.

Teen Drug Use . . . Is it Inevitable? Town Hall Meeting, Dec. 1, Nathan Hale High School

We see it everywhere in the news, media, and entertainment, but is teen substance use really inevitable? Join the Prevention WINS Coalition for a community conversation on the landscape of substance use in Northeast Seattle, what teens want and need from the community to thrive, how parents can set rules, and how to build community protections.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Featuring students from University Prep & Nathan Hale High School, and researchers from the Seattle Children’s Research Institute & the UW's Social Development Research Group, and numerous community resources.

Thursday, December 1, 2016
6:30-8:30pm
Nathan Hale HS Library
10750 30^th Ave NE
Seattle, WA 98125
Map

For more information or questions, contact Liz Wilhelm at liz.wilhelm@seattlechildrens.org or 206-987-7612

Ready...Set...Quit! The Great American Smokeout is Today!

The American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout is the perfect starting point.

If you're a smoker, setting a date to quit can be an important step in protecting your health and the health of your loved ones. The American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout encourages smokers to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking on a specific day. This year, the 41st annual Great American Smokeout is today - November 17 -- and will encourage the 36.5 million adults in the U.S. who smoke cigarettes to quit.

Many loved ones have probably urged you to quit smoking already, and you've probably wanted or tried to quit. We know that quitting can be hard, but don't give up. Just as every successful goal starts with planning and preparation, so too does quitting. When you plan to quit smoking during the Great American Smokeout, you are celebrating this day with millions of other smokers across the nation who also want to quit. Join in by participating in social media conversations, chatting live with a counselor or calling a quitline, or teaming up with friends, family, or co-workers for encouragement.

Smokers who have support are more likely to quit for good!  Visit CDC's Tips From Former Smokers website for resources, tips, and support.

Continuing Education Specialist @ ADAI's Center for Opioid Safety Education

The UW Alcohol & Drug Abuse Institute has an opening for a Continuing Education Specialist 2, who will be responsible for day-to-day activities of the Center for Opioid Safety Education (COSE) at ADAI, helping to develop a comprehensive, evidence-informed response to the growing crisis of opioid use and overdose in Washington state. COSE provides training and technical assistance to communities, professionals, and policy makers to increase awareness of overdose risks, educate about overdose response and naloxone administration, and the implementation of effective interventions to reduce opioid overdose and treat opioid use disorder.  Responsibilities include conducting training for professionals and community members and providing technical assistance on overdose prevention interventions. The position will also be involved in purchasing and overseeing distribution of naloxone including supporting documentation of overdose education and naloxone distribution, use and refills. This position will also promote overdose education by adapting the latest evidence base into educational materials appropriate for the general population and specific professions; updating content and e-learning tools on the StopOverdose.org website; coordinating webinars; and organizing public events and forums as needed. This project is funded through September 2017 by Washington State’s Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery with continued funding anticipated.

Salary: is $5200 - $5700 / month, or $62,400 - $68,400 / year, with excellent benefits.  

For full description and application instructions click here.

For more job openings in addiction research and treatment, click here.

Caleb Banta-Green Receives State Public Health Award for Work on Overdose Prevention

Caleb Banta-Green, Senior Research Scientist at the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute, was awarded the state’s Public Health Leadership Award for his extensive work in drug abuse epidemiology and prevention of opioid overdose.

Washington Secretary of Health John Wiesman presented the award on Oct. 7, acknowledging him as “a leader who turns data into action,” “collaborates and builds bridges,” and “understands equity and health disparities.”  Secretary Wiesman is pictured here with Banta-Green and State Health Officer Kathy Lofy.

The award presentation came shortly after Governor Jay Inslee issued an executive order to fight opioid abuse in Washington state.  

“Today is a day of solidarity, a day of renewed resolution and a day of action where we stand together to say enough is enough,” Inslee said. “We all have an important role to play in the statewide movement to fight one of the most devastating crises facing our communities today—the public health crisis of opioids and heroin.”

Inslee ordered state agencies to work with local public health, tribal and other officials to respond to the growing problem of overdoses of opioids such as heroin and prescription narcotics. The agencies must work on the state’s response plan and report on its progress by the end of this year.

Last year, 718 people died from opioid overdoses in the state. While prescription opioid drug deaths have declined, heroin overdose deaths are increasing, particularly among young people.

“Opioid abuse is an equal opportunity killer that threatens all of our children, all of our families, in every corner of this state, at every economic level,” Inslee said. “It demands a community and public health-related response.”

Banta-Green is a member of the Seattle and King County Heroin and Prescription Opiate Addiction Task Force and he has studied the epidemiology of drug use for nearly two decades. Banta-Green has an MSW, an MPH and a PhD in health services research, all from the UW. He also served as senior science advisor for the Office of National Drug Control Policy in the Executive Office of the President in 2012.

Source: UW School of Public Health News, 10/7/2016