Subject Matter Expertise

Our Approach

The Center staff have years of experience and proven expertise in the field of addiction and have used this expertise to support systems, processes, professionals and communities in addressing addiction and improving health outcomes.

Services

Learning opportunities (ECHO, Communities of Practice, Learning Collaborative, customized training)
Development of guidance documents, practice tools and other resources
Quality Improvement Planning
Best Practice Fidelity Assessment
Implementation Planning
Consultation

Project Examples

Medication Assistance Treatment
The Center was instrumental in New Hampshire’s strategy to initiate and expand medication for the treatment of opioid use disorder. Specifically, our team developed a compendium of best practice recommendations and resources in addition to a tool for use by MAT programs to review and assess their progress related to the development and implementation of the recommended best practices. The Center also facilitated a Community of Practice to support the implementation of MAT among practices and a crosswalk to identify similarities and differences in best practice recommendations through cross reference of the NH MAT Guidance Document and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) 63.

Issue Briefs
In response to emerging addiction-related trends, the Center conducts research and prepares timely resources to support professionals across the state.

State Plans
The Center works with state agencies and its partners to identify and recommend strategies and other actions in an effort to proactively respond to emerging statewide issues.

NH Governor’s Commission Action Plan

The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Criteria
The Center has deep expertise on The ASAM Criteria and has provided a variety of skills-based learning opportunities and resources to enhance provider understanding and use of ASAM.

S.BI.RT
S·BI·RT is a process through which healthy behaviors are reinforced and potentially harmful alcohol and other drug use is identified and discussed with a qualified professional. The acronym, S·BI·RT – Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment, denotes an approach to systematic, universal, evidence-based screening for problematic alcohol and drug use and the routine steps taken to address the screening results. It is utilized across the lifespan in a variety of settings including schools, juvenile diversion, home visiting, primary care, pediatric, ob/gyn, and emergency departments.

Screen and Intervene Playbook – This Playbook was developed to assist in SBIRT implementation particularly in primary care settings. It was developed using lessons learned through implementation of S∙BI∙RT for youth and adults in NH.
Perinatal Playbook – This playbook provides a compendium of actions and / or strategies related to the implementation of S∙BI∙RT in obstetric settings. The plays were developed based on review of other ‘how to’ S∙BI∙RT guides and the recommendations and experiences of NH implementation team members across diverse sites, including specific recommendations from perinatal practices.
SBIRTNH.org website – This website is a compilation of SBIRT tools, resources and guidance documents curated for New Hampshire providers and communities. Included in the compilation are a number of SBIRT Videos, which include the following:

Screen and Intervene, a NH Youth SBIRT Initiative – New Hampshire kids are talking to their doctors about substance use. And that’s a really good thing. The video above provides information about why SBIRT is working, and how it helps kids and their doctors have the conversations about substance use that keep kids healthy and ultimately save lives.

Screen and Intervene: NH S·BI·RT Implementation Video for Prenatal Providers – This video shows a sample dialogue of a provider using the S·BI·RT model to talk with their patient about substance use during pregnancy. This video can help show how providers can utilize the S·BI·RT model with their patients.

Oral Health Professionals Screen and Intervene on Substance Use – Dental providers help their patients recognize the effects of substance use on their oral health.

For additional information on this topic, check out the Center Resource Library.