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Substance Use Disorder

On January 8, 2024, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) announced the availability of $2.8M in reemployment funds for the Direct Care Worker Job Quality (DCWJQ) Grant. The grant funding is to be used to boost PA’s direct care workforce by improving job quality and increasing career advancement opportunities. Applicants may request awards of up to $600,000 each.

Additional information about this funding is posted on the L&I grant opportunity web page. This information includes the grant itself, the application form, project summary, budget form, and the Worker Protection and Investment Certificate form.

The application deadline for the DCWJQ Grant is February 29, 2024, at 4:00 pm ET.

Join RCPA for a Membership Benefits webinar on Thursday, January 4, 2024, at 1:00 pm to orient yourself with all that RCPA membership entails. This is not just for new and future members; for current members, there may be benefits associated with your membership that you may not be aware of, including meetings and group communications that occur throughout the year. This webinar is a great way to ensure you are getting the most out of your membership!

Register here to attend. During the webinar, you’ll be able to:

  • Virtually meet the dedicated RCPA Policy Staff and lobbyists;
  • Discuss the 2024 Legislative and Administrative priorities;
  • Preview RCPA division committee and subcommittee meetings and what they offer;
  • View the RCPA member-only website;
  • Review exclusive yearly education and networking events; and
  • Understand the value of the National Association memberships included with RCPA membership.

Visit the RCPA member benefits page or contact Tieanna Lloyd for benefit information. We look forward to your participation in this webinar.

Harm Reduction Therapeutics (HRT), a non-profit pharmaceutical company, has shipped the first order of RiVive, an over-the-counter naloxone nasal spray to prevent opioid overdose deaths. The FDA-approved nasal spray provides a single 3 mg administration for the emergency treatment of opioid overdose without a prescription. RiVive will be distributed to community harm reduction groups that are working to combat opioid overdoses, and HRT is committed to its non-profit model and aims to make RiVive available across the United States free of charge or at a low cost.

HRT emphasizes that no entity or individual, including its unpaid volunteer board of directors and staff, will profit from RiVive sales. The product will be available at cost or less, with a selling price of $36 per twin pack, covering production, packaging, testing, and transportation costs. Additionally, HRT actively seeks additional funding partners to support operations, reduce selling prices, and increase the availability of free-of-charge doses, highlighting the importance of charitable contributions in saving lives amid the opioid crisis.

Read the full press release.

Pennsylvania’s Behavioral Health Council, created through executive order in October, held its first meeting yesterday.

The council intends to develop and recommend to the governor a statewide action plan to address any gaps in access, affordability, or delivery of services, with the goal of removing silos across state agencies, healthcare providers, payers, state and local government sectors, as well as decreasing the wait time for services for Pennsylvanians in need.

Read the full press release and list of Behavioral Health Council members.

Prescription, Addiction, and Prohibition: Our Love/Hate Affair With Opioids
January 9, 2024
9:00 am – 3:30 pm

Early bird rate: $35 (ends 1/2/24)
Regular rate: $45 (begins 1/3/24)
Location: Holiday Inn, Grantville, PA
Instructor: Karin C. Gladney, PhD, CAADC
CE Credits: 5 Hours
Register on the BHE Website

This course is designed to provide an overview of the cycle of use and abuse of opiates in the United States. The diagnostic criteria for opioid use disorders, including clinical presentation, epidemiology and treatment, will be explored. Participants will learn about the mechanisms of action of opioids, including how they affect the brain and nervous system. In addition, the course will cover strategies for managing opioid overdose and preventing relapse, as well as the importance of addressing co-occurring mental health conditions in the treatment of opioid use disorder. Participants will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively address opioid use disorders in their practice or community.


The Fundamentals: Trauma Definitions and Diagnoses
January 10, 2024
9:00 am – 3:30 pm

Early bird rate: $35 (ends 1/2/24)
Regular rate: $45 (begins 1/3/24)
Location: Holiday Inn, Grantville, PA
Instructor: Karin C. Gladney, PhD, CAADC
CE Credits: 5 Hours
Register on the BHE Website

Trauma is ever-present in the lives of many people who seek professional help. This training will provide a foundational overview necessary to understand the impact of traumatic experiences. Areas that will be explored include definitions, diagnostic criteria, prevalence data and brain changes. Participants will engage in discussions regarding their professional experiences in working with people with trauma histories. A vignette will be provided highlighting the lasting impact trauma can have on a person, as well as the healing journey toward recovery. Lastly, the importance of becoming trauma-informed practitioners will also be introduced.