Date: 09/08/2014

Final
Panel Presentation with Substance Abuse Providers

MARIJUANA SALES TAX REVENUES

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
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09:37 AM -- Panel Presentation with Substance Abuse Providers

Mr. Matt Sundeen, Executive Director, Colorado Providers Association, came to the table to present. A copy of the presentation was distributed (Attachment A) as well as a fact sheet on substance abuse from the Colorado Providers Association (Attachment B). Mr. Sundeen provided background information on the challenges surrounding marijuana usage and substance abuse in Colorado, stating that Colorado has a dependence on most drugs and substances higher than the national average and has historically been challenged by this. He responded to a question on illicit drug use. He spoke to the prevention, early intervention, treatment and recovery of substance abusers.

14Marijuana0908AttachA.pdf14Marijuana0908AttachA.pdf 14Marijuana0908AttachB.pdf14Marijuana0908AttachB.pdf

09:43 AM

Mr. Art Schut, President and CEO of Arapahoe House, spoke to the treatment services provided by his organization. He told the committee that the services provided are generally for in-patient intensive care, but that it also provides outpatient, DUI and detox services. He stated that obtaining current data on substance abuse is always a challenge. Mr. Schut told the committee that marijuana is the top drug of choice in teens in Colorado, and that his organization has seen a significant increase in marijuana use since its legalization. He provided some data points surrounding the growth of marijuana use in Colorado in recent years. He responded to questions on the increasing trend in teen marijuana use since 2011, the strong reputation of Arapahoe House, the disconnect between detox and residential substance abuse services, efforts taken to prevent individuals from returning to substance abuse following treatment, and capacity and funding support issues experienced by Arapahoe House. He responded to additional questions on possible explanations for increased rates of marijuana abuse and treatment in Colorado, the perception of marijuana risks among youth, marijuana as the drug most frequently used by substance abusers, how data surrounding substance abuse is collected, how many abusers use multiple drugs versus just a single drug, the difference between dependence and use, and how drug dependence correlates with criminal behavior.


10:04 AM

Dr. Douglas Novins, Chair of the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Children's Hospital Colorado, spoke to how individuals transition from substance use to dependence. The panel responded to a question on the common behaviors related to substance abuse. Mr. Schut discussed the other substances abused by the individuals admitted to Arapahoe House, and responded to questions on causes of substance abuse and data on Driving Under the Influence admissions to Arapahoe House.


10:12 AM

Dr. Novins began his presentation on marijuana abuse and services provided by Children's Hospital Colorado. He spoke to the concerns that the hospital has surrounding marijuana and youth use in Colorado, and explained the services provided to address this, which are outpatient clinics, anticipatory guidance, screening, brief intervention, referral to treatment, and other speciality substance abuse services. Dr. Novins discussed Children's Hospital Colorado's behavioral health strategy. He told the committee that demands for emergency and in-patient services are extremely high currently, and that the hospital is looking to address this. He responded to questions on referrals to other service providers and if services and treatment are only available to those who have insurance or can afford such services.


10:21 AM

Mr. Sundeen spoke to specific substance prevention strategies within the state, which include research-based strategies such as information dissemination, prevention education, environmental strategies, community-based processes, alternative activities, and problem identification and referral. A handout discussing these and the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention was distributed to the committee (Attachment C). Mr. Sundeen responded to questions on the characteristics used to differentiate substance abuse in different communities. He then spoke to the different prevention efforts that are active throughout Colorado, the public sources of funding for these programs, and responded to questions on federal funding cuts for programs provided by the Office of Behavioral Health (OBH). The panel discussed these funding cuts.

14Marijuana0908AttachC.pdf14Marijuana0908AttachC.pdf

10:32 AM

Mr. Sundeen discussed treatment funding in greater detail, noting that the two biggest agencies in the state that provide treatment support funding are the OBH and Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. He noted that many services covered by Medicaid have the potential for matching federal funds, and responded to questions on how block grant funding is distributed, access to substance use help for the poor, what other states are doing to address substance use disorders, and if other states are more creative in findings ways to obtain and distribute funding for substance abuse services.


10:45 AM

Mr. Sundeen described the substance use providers' key takeaways and recommendations for the committee, which are to not look at marijuana in a silo, support the whole continuum of substance use services, utilize proven experts and strategies, and to strengthen existing infrastructure. The panel responded to questions on where teens are getting marijuana from, marijuana as a gateway drug, the data providers are looking to collect to make conclusions on substance use trends and how this will be collected, the collection and tracking of youth substance use data, if there is any indication that federal funding cuts were in response to Colorado's legalization of marijuana, and what the state could do to successfully address substance abuse if funding was unlimited.


11:03 AM

The panel and committee discussed the optimization of funds for substance use disorder treatment and the panel responded to questions on serving individuals who are not eligible for Medicaid.