Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #118535

Barry Bleidt, PhD, PharmD, Professor and Associate Dean, Academic Affairs, Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, MSC 131, 700 University Blvd., Kingsville, TX 78363-8202, 361-593-4533, bleidtbarry@aol.com

Insularity of physical and mental health problems does not end at freeways, subways, fenced-in pastures or borders. Evidence-based research has demonstrated not only the importance but also the need of having a panoply of resources to promote wellness and prevent or treat disorders. Most individuals with substance abuse problems and co-morbid conditions do not initially enter the specialty behavioral health sector. If individuals voluntary go to any part of the medical care system, they go to pharmacies, primary care providers, community health care centers, or to emergency rooms. Individuals who are poor and/or underserved often need the greatest array of providers to address the risk factors that influence health or well being. A great deal of time, effort, and money has been spent by public entities in developing programs and tools to enhance the capacity of health practitioners to assess, refer, and treat individuals with mental health and substance abuse needs. However, the diffusion and adoption of the programs and tools are often negated by the lack of communication among different types of providers and also between consumers and providers. The challenge is not to create new programs and tools but, rather, to assist providers and consumers in configuring flexible and culturally-appropriate community-based delivery systems that not only address the specific health care needs of individuals and their communities but also sustain interpersonal relationships that view prevention, treatment and recovery as the continuum of care that, if not addressed, create a chasm for increased chronicity and recidivism.

Learning Objectives:

• See overall session abtract.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation