The Department of Family Medicine at the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine wants to change a major shortcoming of the way substance abuse is treated today.
Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine Campus in Stratford, Friday, Feb. 28, 2014. STRATFORD — A major failing in the way substance abuse is treated today is a lack of trained medical professionals evaluating and providing the care to patients in need.
Though accurate screenings and early intervention have been found to be critical in successfully treating substance abuse, the majority of medical professionals providing the treatment in the U.S. are not adequately trained in addiction care, according to a 2012 study by the CASA Columbia National Advisory Commission on Addiction Treatment. The five-year study found that "both screening and early intervention for risky substance use are rare" in today's treatment.
But these deficient areas are exactly where Rowan University is putting its focus. Through a nearly $1 million agreement with the state, the Department of Family Medicine at the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine plans to provide "early intervention and treatment services for individuals who have, or are at risk for, substance abuse disorders."
Using a three-step approach, RowanSOM will offer proper screenings, interventions using specially trained health educators, and referrals to specialty care for those most at risk and in need of more extensive treatment.
"The initial screenings consist of between one and three questions concerning drug and alcohol use that, depending on a patient's response, could lead to a more in-depth screenings intervention by a trained health coordinator," said Dr. Joshua Coren, chairman of the medical school's Department of Family Medicine, in a recent statement about the agreement.
He added, "This agreement will help us provide on-site, early intervention services to at-risk patients before their substance abuse can result in serious consequences to them or to others."
The two-year, $973,000 agreement with the New Jersey Department of Human Services Division of Mental Health Addiction Services will add five sites in South Jersey.
The funding is part of an ongoing federal initiative called the Screenings, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) program. The federal government had previously awarded New Jersey a five-year grant to implement these programs in the state.
A portion of that grant received by the state will go to Rowan to begin providing the SBIRT services in South Jersey, according to university spokesman Gerald Carey.
RowanSOM will provide the programs at its five Rowan Family Medicine offices in Hammonton, Mount Laurel, Sewell, Stratford and the Student Wellness Office in Glassboro. Those offices will provide the treatment, offering "each adult patient with alcohol and drug screening and, as needed, on-site interventions or referrals."
Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.
