Presenters
- Kimberly Malayter, MSW, Executive Director of Clinical Services, Merakey, Radnor, PA
- Laura Murray, DO, Exec. Medical Director and VP of Medical Affairs, Merakey, Philadelphia, PA
- Chris Tjoa, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Community Behavioral Health, Philadelphia, PA
- Stacey Trooskin, MD, PhD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer, Philadelphia FIGHT Community Health Centers, Philadelphia, PA
- Jena Fisher, PhD, Executive Director of Innovation, Merakey, Philadelphia, PA
- Carol Larach, DrPH, MPH, MSEd, Director of Integrated Care, Community Behavioral Health, Philadelphia, PA
- Joshua Vigderman, MA, LPC, Executive Director, Merakey, Philadelphia, PA
Summary
People living with substance use disorders are at significantly increased risk of death and negative health consequences due in large part to the higher prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STI) than the general population. The opioid epidemic has contributed to an outbreak in HIV and viral hepatitis infections among people who inject drugs, due to a variety of risky health behaviors including shared needles, transactional sex, and non-sterile tattoos. When left untreated, these health conditions can have significant negative health consequences. In recognizing that recovery encompasses the whole person, SUD treatment providers are uniquely poised to address sexual health issues in the population they serve through integrated care. Leaders in integrated care, addictions, and managed care will discuss the transition in a large Methadone Clinic in Philadelphia to one addressing holistic needs of the clients. This presentation will review specific steps that SUD treatment providers and programs can take to identify, treat, and reduce risks in the population they serve by examining the implementation of infectious disease and sexual health services. These interventions include: opportunities for directly observed therapy; providing sexual health psychoeducation and taking sexual health histories; incorporating STI screening; providing Hep A/B vaccinations; expanding access to PrEP/PEP and HCV treatment; developing collaborative relationships with community partners. The target population for this program is program leaders and clinicians who work with people who live with SUD or policy makers interested in learning more about innovative approaches to outreach and life-saving treatment in a population who often does not otherwise seek care. Participants will walk away with a comprehensive understanding of how STIs disproportionately affect the SUD population, and they will be able to identify specific strategies that they can implement in their programs.
Objectives
- Gain knowledge into how sexually transmitted infections and infectious diseases, including HIV and Hepatitis C, disproportionately affect the substance use disorder population
- Identify specific interventions that clinicians and substance use disorder treatment programs can implement into their existing programs to expand access to sexual health services
- Recognize how substance use disorder programs can develop community partnerships to enhance the holistic wellness of the populations they serve
