--- title: July Averhealth Digest --- The latest information about substance use monitoring best practices and related industry news from around the web. | View in browser July 2022 Introducing the Customer Ambassador Program Averhealth has launched our Customer Ambassador Program. It's a new initiative to harness the knowledge of our customers to gain insights about new services and product offerings, customer service, and enhancements to Aversys, our web-based application.   Averhealth is an industry knowledge hub. To build upon that, Customer Ambassadors will share ideas to help us stay ahead of changing trends in criminal justice and technology. They'll also help us gain actionable insights to enhance our operations while ensuring all of our customers get the most out of their partnership with Averhealth.   Thank you to our initial customer ambassadors. We look forward to their comments and suggestions. Derrick Mensah  Statewide Substance Use Services Manager   Office of the Commissioner of Probation (MA)    Melissa Patrick   Support Services Manager  Des Moines Municipal Court (WA)   Bill Castaneda   Division Director, Operations    Pima County Adult Probation Department (AZ)   Allen E. Bell  Agency Director  Midland Judicial District CSCD (TX)   Shelby Johnson Director Henrico County Community Corrections Program (VA) Chris Pawlowski   Deputy Chief    Chester County Probation/ Parole & Pretrial Services (PA)    Jessica Thayer  Associate Director  Salt Lake County Criminal Justice Services (UT)   Mary Wolfinger   Program Coordinator  Kootenai County Mental Health Court (ID)   Darcy Kamau    Program Coordinator    Cobb County DUI Court (GA)       Opioid Courts Tackling Deadly Problem With a raging national opioid epidemic, opioid intervention courts provide immediate screening, treatment, and support services to prevent overdose deaths.    According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 107,000 people died of an overdose in 2021—more than twice the number of US traffic fatalities or gun-violence deaths. The CDC says it's the leading cause of death among people 18-45. Two-thirds of these deaths involved synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times more potent than heroin.     Learn about how opioid intervention courts are helping to tackle this deadly problem – and how you can support this solution in your community. Averhealth Updates It's National Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week! Averhealth proudly supports our partners in pretrial, probation, and parole supervision as the American Parole and Probation Association (APPA) celebrates PPPS Week.   It's a chance during the third full calendar week every July (this week!) to celebrate over 100,000 community corrections professionals around the country who work hard to keep our communities safe. As the APPA prepares for its 47th Annual Training Institute to be held Aug. 28-31, POs are encouraged to consider the 2022 PPPS Week theme: "Restoring Trust, Creating Hope."   This year marks the 23rd anniversary of the celebration, which began when APPA members requested that states recognize professionals in community corrections nationwide. In 1999, APPA started lobbying every state to proclaim that one week in July is Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week.    Learn more about PPPS Week – and thank those involved in community corrections.   See you next week in Nashville, TN! As a proud platinum sponsor, the Averhealth team is excited to welcome 7,000 attendees to this year's NADCP RISE22 in Nashville, the world's premier conference on addiction, mental health, and justice reform kicking off next week.    Be sure to visit us at Booth 111 in the Delta B lobby at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. Then make plans to join our workshops: Attend two engaging workshops we're presenting:  July 25 at 2:45 p.m.: "Veterans Treatment Courts: Never Stop Moving – 10 Years, 10 Tips." Our panel – Averhealth board member Gen. Barry McCaffrey (Ret.), Judge Bill Anderson, court administrator Jerry Easter, and veteran Brad Bell – will outline the benefits of veterans' treatment courts and how the program in Shelby County, Tenn., has achieved 10 years of success. Mr. Bell will then tell us how he credits the court for turning his life around. (You can read more about Mr. Bell in our recent blog.) This session will be held in Ryman Ballroom A/B. July 26 at 9:30 a.m.: "A Snapshot of Community Drug Trends – Popular Street Drugs Used to Avoid Drug Testing Detection." Back by popular demand is the Tall Cop, Jermaine Galloway, who will focus this session on popular street drugs – over-the-counter and plant-based drugs – that are of interest to avoid drug testing detection. You'll also learn about what stash clothing is being purchased for those seeking drug-related items. Join us for this session in Ryman Ballroom D/E. Upcoming Conferences Make plans to see Team Averhealth at this upcoming state conference: Texas Probation Association Legislative Conference August 7-10 at Hilton Palacio Del Rio in San Antonio.   American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) Annual Training Institute August 28-31 at the Hilton in Chicago.   Industry News Study Identifies Ways to Deliver Jail-Based Addiction Treatment   States can improve ways to deliver jail-based treatment to fight opioid addiction. That's the conclusion of a study published in Addiction Science and Clinical Practice.   The study concludes that increased use of evidence-based clinical guidelines, more significant investment in resources, and expanded partnerships with health and social service providers can improve treatment reach and save lives.   Interviews with New Jersey jail personnel found that despite obstacles – short jail stays and limited resources, for example – they identified creative solutions to deliver medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD).   Read details of the study here.   Binge Drinking Prevalent Among Adults   It's not just the college keg parties.   New research shows that binge drinking – more than five drinks in one setting – is prevalent across the adult lifespan, with most of it occurring among those over 30 years old.    A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine finds binge drinking is increasing among adults, even those over 50, partly due to the stresses of life in the Covid era.    A significant amount of adult binge drinking escapes public health scrutiny because it occurs among individuals who drink at a moderate average level. This observational study examines the role of a binge pattern of drinking in predicting alcohol problems among moderate drinkers in a US national sample of adults.   Binge drinking was linked with an almost three times increase in the number of concurrent alcohol problems. These results make the case that binge drinking is a public health concern among adults and that moderate average-level drinkers should be included in efforts to reduce alcohol problems in adults.    You can read the study here. Let's Connect We want to connect with you on social media! Did you know Averhealth has a Facebook and LinkedIn account? By following our pages, you can make sure you never miss important Averhealth information again!   Click the icons below to follow us! Partner with Averhealth! For more information on how you can partner with Averhealth for all of your drug testing needs, please reach out to sales@averhealth.com. Need a resource? SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) open 24/7 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) open 24/7 CSG: Creating a Relapse Prevention Plan One Choice Prevention Averhealth, 2916 W. Marshall Street, Suite A, Richmond, VA 23230, 866.680.3106 Unsubscribe | | --- |