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, [...]
Arizona Loses a Children’s Health Evangelist
Daniel T. Cloud, Jr., M.D., one of Arizona’s most dedicated health and public health professionals, passed away last week. We’ll miss him, but his life work lives on. Dr. Cloud made his dream come true to establish a children's hospital in Arizona- and became the Founding President of Phoenix Children's Hospital in 1983. He was also one of our key [...]
America’s Drug Abusers Going Gray
The proportion of people admitted for drug abuse treatment over 50 nearly doubled between 1992 and 2008. While alcohol still is the leading cause of admissions in this age group, sharp increases were noted in those needing treatment for heroin, cocaine and marijuana, according to the study published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). You can [...]
America's Drug Abusers Going Gray
The proportion of people admitted for drug abuse treatment over 50 nearly doubled between 1992 and 2008. While alcohol still is the leading cause of admissions in this age group, sharp increases were noted in those needing treatment for heroin, cocaine and marijuana, according to the study published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). You can [...]
AZ Developmental Disability Planning Council Grant Opportunity
The Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council was established by the Governor in September 2009. It’s part of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000. I’m on the Council. Our mission is to represent the interests and needs of persons with developmental disabilities throughout Arizona- especially people that are underserved. We support capacity building and systems change [...]
New Urgent Psychiatric Center on the Way
One of the behavioral health challenges that we’ve been facing in the valley over the last several years has been the lack of places that are available for urgent psychiatric care. Oftentimes persons in an acute psychiatric crisis end up being treated in an emergency department where they might not have the expertise to provide optimal treatment. If there isn’t [...]