ONDCP Director Michael Botticelli Commends Project ASSERT

Описание: On December 11th, 2014, Project ASSERT celebrated its 20th anniversary. Founded in 1994 and housed in the Department of Social Work at Boston Medical Center, Project ASSERT connects patients with substance abuse treatment programs, opioid overdose prevention, primary care, and social support services. The program is staffed by health promotion advocates who are experienced substance abuse counselors and represent the surrounding communities served by the hospital. While Project ASSERT's services were originally confined to the emergency department, the program has expanded its reach to include inpatient floors. Most recently, Project ASSERT has channeled its advocacy efforts towards improving the accessibility of substance abuse treatment services for LGBTQ patients.

Project ASSERT served as a model for SAMHSA's National SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment) programs that address the treatment gap for those with addictions and the unmet needs of the population whose unhealthy alcohol and drug use puts them at risk for injury, illness, and legal, mental, and social problems. The Project ASSERT model was also recognized in 2012 for the high quality of its supporting research and dissemination materials by SAMHSA’s National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices. In collaboration with the BNI-ART Institute at Boston University School of Public Health, Project ASSERT has provided SBIRT training and technical assistance for hundreds of health professionals at medical settings throughout Massachusetts and across the nation.