Western Pennsylvania has experienced an epidemic of heroin and opioid abuse in the past 8-10 years. According to 2020 CDC data, Pennsylvania had the eighth-highest drug overdose mortality rate in the U.S. A consortium of the Armstrong-Indiana-Clarion Drug and Alcohol Commission (AICDAC) and nine partners created the Nurse Navigator and Recovery Specialist Outreach Program to […]
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Innovative Intervention Addresses Youth Suicide Risk in the Juvenile Justice System
Youth involved with the juvenile justice system die by suicide at a rate two to three times higher than youth in the general population. The risk for suicide is greatest overall for young people on probation, which is the segment of the justice system that allows youth to remain in their community (versus being in […]
Behavioral Health Equity Challenge Winners Showcases
Earlier this year, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) launched the “Behavioral Health Equity Challenge: Outreach and Engagement Strategies for Underserved Racial and Ethnic Communities.” Community-based organizations (CBOs) often serve on the front lines to address the needs of their community members. The goal of this challenge was to identify and highlight […]
Moving Beyond Change Efforts: Evidence and Action to Support and Affirm LGBTQI+ Youth
Like all youth, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and intersex youth and other sexual- and gender-diverse children and adolescents (LGBTQI+ youth) deserve to grow up in supportive environments absent stigma and discrimination that allow them to thrive and achieve their human potential.When seeking behavioral health treatment (both mental health and substance use interventions), these […]
Treatment for Suicidal Ideation, Self-Harm, and Suicide Attempts Among Youth
Suicide in both adolescents and young adults has drastically increased over recent years. There are many ways to identify and approach an individual who struggles with suicidal ideation, self-harm, or attempts suicide. This guide provides current research and the effectiveness of the program in treating mental health issues in adolescents and young adults. In addition, […]
Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention for Youth: A Practitioner’s Guide
The Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention for Youth: A Practitioner’s Guide has just been released from the Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. This guide is especially helpful for individuals and organizations that manage the health and well-being of 9- 18-year-olds. The Guide, which was designed […]