ADHS Status
We’ve got a lot to be proud of over the last year and an half. It’s been hard, I know because of all of the budget reductions and the lower staffing level. On the other hand, we’ve got an incredible mission and we’re doing a good job. I often tell people that we work in the most interesting agency in [...]
Integrating Physical & Mental Health
One of our top priorities in behavioral health over the coming years will be to better integrate physical health and mental health services in Arizona. Why is this a priority you ask? It’s because folks with the most serious mental illnesses die at least 25 years earlier than the average Arizonan (this is consistent across the country). Physical and mental [...]
Integrating Physical & Mental Health
One of our top priorities in behavioral health over the coming years will be to better integrate physical health and mental health services in Arizona. Why is this a priority you ask? It’s because folks with the most serious mental illnesses die at least 25 years earlier than the average Arizonan (this is consistent across the country). Physical and mental [...]
Substance Abuse in AZ
Our Division of Behavioral Health Services is the point guard for substance abuse prevention & treatment in Arizona (also referred to as the Single State Authority for Substance Abuse Services at the federal level). One of those concerns is the abuse of marijuana- which continues to be in high demand and abused in our state. Marijuana use and abuse is [...]
Medical Marijuana (Proposition 203)
As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, an Initiative called the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act will be on the Ballot this November. We organized several teams (behavioral health, substance abuse, public health, licensure, rules, IT, and administrative council etc.) to examine the Initiative over the last few weeks. You can read a news article this week that highlights some of my [...]
New ADHS Chief Medical Officer
I’m happy to announce that Laura Nelson, M.D. will be taking on some additional responsibilities in her expanded role as the ADHS’ Chief Medical Officer. She will continue in her role as the Deputy Director for Behavioral Health Services as well (notice the “Acting” label is gone now). As is the case with many of you over the last year, [...]