Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Learning Sessions

The State of Vermont, Department of Vermont Health Access, Vermont Blueprint for Health

7/31/25-7/31/26

Lisa A. Marsch, PhD (Center for Technology and Behavioral Health, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth)

Bethany M. McLeman (Center for Technology and Behavioral Health, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth), Owen B. Murray, LMFT (Center for Technology and Behavioral Health, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth)

The Vermont Hub and Spoke network of outpatient Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) treatment provider teams and Vermont Blueprint for Health Community Health Teams provide care and patient support that has reduced need for utilization of health care services and reduced treatment costs as measured by claims data. Vermont has engaged a higher proportion of its population into evidence-based Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) treatment than any other state and qualitative research supports patient satisfaction with the Hub and Spoke care system in Vermont.

Drug overdose deaths and other adverse sequalae of Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) and other mental health conditions continue to impact Vermont which remains among the 10 states with the highest drug overdose mortality. To increase treatment team knowledge and skills in treating SUDs and co-occurring mental health challenges, The Vermont Blueprint for Health has contracted The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College to develop and deliver eleven monthly clinically focused 60-minute webinars and an in-person conference featuring nationally recognized clinician/scientist presenters and expert clinicians practicing in Vermont. Topics include improving MOUD engagement and retention, medication management of OUD and Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), state of the evidence of cannabis consumption for therapeutic purposes, treatment of co-occurring AUD and Depression, treatment modalities for Stimulant Use Disorders, interprofessional treatment of pain co-occurring with SUDs, interpretation and clinical utility of urine drug testing for SUDs, developing patient-centered MOUD care plans, differential diagnosis of primary Anxiety or Depressive Disorders and Post-Acute-Withdrawal Syndrome, and review of emerging drug threats. The current project cycle is the sixth annual renewal. Attendance to the previous year’s 11 webinars averaged 77 care or service providers per session. There were 141 care or service providers who attended the previous year’s conference. There is no research component to these clinical trainings.

Attendance to these trainings is limited to prescribers, nurses, behavioral health clinicians, and affiliated service providers who serve patients in Vermont with SUDs. Distinct from research that adds to the evidence base informing public health or health care, these trainings disseminate the state of the evidence to inform practice of attendees who provide direct service to people with SUDs.