How Hospitals Can Lead The Way During Substance Use & Misuse Prevention Month

Each October, Substance Use & Misuse Prevention Month serves as a reminder of the growing impact of substance use disorders in our communities and nationally.

According to the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than 58% of Americans ages 12 and older — about 168 million people — reported recent use of tobacco, alcohol or illicit substances.

Hospitals and behavioral health providers are uniquely positioned to lead the charge in the prevention of SUDs in their communities.

The importance of screening

“The most effective way for hospitals to screen patients for SUDs is to have a standardized, evidence-based, universal screening process,” said Shawn Billings, vice president of substance use programming at the Missouri Hospital Association.

Screening and assessment tools can be self-administered or conducted by a clinician and integrated into a patient’s electronic health record. Additionally, a trauma-informed, person-centered approach to conducting screenings with patients ensures the screenings lead to meaningful interventions.

Continued support after discharge

Hospital teams can support patients after they are discharged from their facilities through the following ways.

• facilitate referrals to treatment
• provide bridge prescriptions
• assist with coordinating appointments
• offer financial or transportation aid
• conduct follow-up outreach
• connect patients with peer support or telemedicine services

The American Society of Addiction Medicine released an assessment guide that aims to assist providers with finding the right referral level for the patients in their care.

The Engaging Patients In Care Coordination program, supported by MHA and the Behavioral Health Network of Greater St. Louis, provides 24/7/365 referral and linkage services for patients residing in targeted regions who present to a hospital due to an overdose or other substance use crisis.

“For patients residing in one of our EPICC regions, a referral can be made at the time of hospitalization, and a Certified Peer Specialist will respond to the patient’s bedside, typically within one hour,” Billings said.

Resources available for hospitals

In addition to EPICC, MHA’s substance use programming team offers technical assistance, consultation and training to hospitals across Missouri.

Through Overdose Data to Action in States funding, MHA staff work to support Missouri communities through nonfatal overdose biosurveillance and prevention with targeted training and educational support.

Several resources are available on MHA’s website, including evidence-based guidelines, implementation strategies, and practical tools to help hospitals address substance use and misuse. Hospital staff can learn about the following.

• improving opioid prescribing
• standardizing pain management
• educating patients
• implementing life-saving programs, like hospital-initiated take home naloxone kits

To help implement SUD prevention programs in hospitals, funding is available through grants from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Funding also can come from state programs, sometimes supported by opioid settlement funds, and reimbursement from Medicaid and Medicare. Private foundations offer grants, and federal grant databases like Grants.gov list specific funding opportunities.

Accessing and utilizing data

MHA’s data company, the Hospital Industry Data Institute, provides access to substance use trend information. This information is available through HIDI's Care Optics business intelligence platform, which includes specific dashboards related to substance use.

Hospitals also can elect to participate in nonfatal drug overdose biosurveillance, a public health collaboration between MHA, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, and the Missouri State Public Health Laboratory. Hospitals submitting samples through this initiative will receive monthly reports detailing the substances bringing patients to their emergency departments, Billings said.

Collaborating with community partners

SUDs are not just a challenge for hospitals; substance use and misuse affect entire communities, Billings said. That’s why a community-wide response is necessary.

Billings encourages hospital teams to collaborate with local public health and law enforcement agencies as well as community partners on substance use prevention in the following ways.

• establishing data-sharing networks for real-time information on overdose clusters
• creating co-response teams for behavioral health crises, such as crisis intervention teams
• implementing diversion programs to link individuals with treatment instead of the criminal justice system
• developing joint prevention and education campaigns

Community-wide needs assessments also can be useful to identify nonclinical factors that affect an individual’s health, he said.

How to participate

Hospitals can participate in Substance Use & Misuse Prevention Month by implementing routine screening for substance use, educating staff and patients on the risks of overdoses and prevention tips, and partnering with community organizations to provide resources about substance use.

SAMHSA provides a toolkit that includes social media graphics and messages, flyers and more.

According to the American Addiction Centers, health care professionals are 10% to 15% more likely to develop substance misuse than the general population. This means participation in SUD prevention efforts can benefit members of the health care team. Access to trauma-informed supervision and peer support are steps hospitals can take to lower substance misuse among staff.

To connect with MHA’s substance use programming team, visit MHA’s website.