Substance Use & Behavioral Health
Evaluation of the The Hawai’i Opioid Initiative (HOI)
The Hawai’i Opioid Initiative (HOI) was established to address the opioid epidemic with a coordinated and proactive response that incorporates multiple stake holders. The University of Hawai’i at Mānoa Office of Public Health Studies (OPHS) previously served as the evaluation team of the CDC Data-Driven Prevention Initiative (DDPI), which facilitated the HOI work groups. In cooperation with the Hawai’i State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division (ADAD), OPHS provided an evaluation report in 2019 which assessed the successes, challenges, and explored future recommendations for the HOI. The University of Hawai’i OPHS was invited again in 2020 to serve as the evaluation team for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) State Opioid Response, to provide continuity of HOI program evaluation, and support the coordination of activities, and technical assistance with the HOI work groups. The seven workgroups include:
- Treatment Access
- Prescriber Education
- Data-Informed Decision Making
- Prevention & Public Education
- Pharmacy-Based Interventions
- Law Enforcement & First Responders
- Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT)
- 2019 Hawaiʻi Opioid Initiative Evaluation Report – web version and PDF version
- 2020 Hawaiʻi Opioid Initiative Evaluation Report – web version and PDF version
- 2021 Hawaiʻi Opioid Initiative Evaluation Report – web version and PDF version
- If you would like to get involved in the Hawaiʻi Opioid Initiative, please e-mail phac+uheval@hawaii.edu.
Funding: SAMHSA State Opioid Response — Behavioral Health Administration Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division
Project period: 9/1/2019-8/31/2021
Hawaiʻi Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) Epidemiologic and Evaluation Project
The Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) project expands public health surveillance and data collection of higher quality, greater timeliness, and greater comprehensiveness on opioid related mis-use and associated overdose morbidity and mortality, and to use these data to inform prevention strategies through the Hawaii Opioid Initiative (HOI). OD2A builds capacity for public health programs determined to be promising based on research evidence; makes Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs easier to use and access; works with health systems, state and local partners, and communities to improve opioid prescribing; and improves identification, treatment access, and treatment to our most vulnerable populations through enhanced data systems in vital records, public safety and in state-funded behavioral health programs and cross-agency collaboration. Rather than duplicating current efforts, this project furthers the collaborative work of the HOI and builds on the previous CDC-funded program Data-Driven Prevention Initiative. OD2A focuses on using timelier, high quality data to efficiently identify, link to care, and educate providers.
- Contact: phac+od2a@hawaii.edu
Funding: CDC Overdose Data to Action — Behavioral Health Administration Adult Mental Health Division
Project period: 9/1/2019-1/31/2022
Hawaiʻi OD2A Peer-to-Peer Learning Coordinator Project: Continuity of Care and Overdose Prevention for Vulnerable Populations in Hawai‘i (Year 1 & 2)
In Hawai‘i, because Native Hawaiians are over-represented among vulnerable populations and because 44.6% of the total number of adults and adolescents (5,187) admitted into the Department of Health’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division-contracted substance abuse treatment and recovery support service programs are Native Hawaiian, the focus of this project will be on Native Hawaiian cultural intervention treatment programs, wellness plans, and holistic living systems of care. The project will also build a coalition of educators with expertise in Native Hawaiian healing who can strengthen culturally safe training opportunities for substance use prevention in subsequent years. Prevention efforts will provide a holistic examination of opioid overdose issues that emphasize the social determinants of health and support an approach that balances cultural innovation with clinical evidence. Educators will come from private and public sectors of academia, community-based organizations, government, non-profit and managed care organizations.
Funding: CDC Overdose Data to Action — Behavioral Health Administration Adult Mental Health Division
Project period: 4/1/2020-8/31/2021
Hawaiʻi OD2A Peer-to-Peer Learning Coordinator Project (Year 3)
Funding: CDC Overdose Data to Action — Behavioral Health Administration Adult Mental Health Division
Project period: 9/1/2021-2/4/2022
Hawaiʻi Emergency Grant to Address Mental and Substance Use Disorders During COVID-19
With currently 57.8 million Americans living with mental health and SUD, it is expected that this number will increase due to sequelae from COVID-19. The purpose of this program is to specifically address the needs of those with serious mental illness (SMI) and SUD and those with less severe mental illness, including those in healthcare. The University of Hawai’i Office of Public Health Studies (OPHS) has been invited to serve as evaluators of this Emergency COVID-19 program in collaboration with the State of Hawai’i Adult Mental Health Division (AMHD). This program will focus on the expansion of co-occurring recovery program (Palekana) Pilot to the island of Hawai’i and enhancing telepsychiatry services for those with SMI and co-occurring SMI and SUD, expanding homeless case management in those with less severe mental illness, and working with the University of Hawai’i Department of Psychiatry to develop and implement a healthcare practitioner supporting healthcare practitioner mental health program. The grant is expected to start May 31, 2020 and last for 16 months.
Funding: SAMHSA Emergency COVID-19 Grant
Project period: 5/15/2020-9/2022