Maryland Addiction Consultation Service

08/12/2025

There’s still time to register for our maternal health ECHO session happening tomorrow from 12 to 1 p.m.

The session’s presenter Dr. Christopher Welsh will help expand best practices in maternal health and substance use care by focusing on “Benzodiazepines and Pregnancy.”

All providers, especially those working in maternal health settings, are encouraged to register here: https://www.medschool.umaryland.edu/macsformoms/provider-support/macs-for-moms-echo-session/.

⚠️ Please note the registration changes that are on our MACS ECHO web page.

05/12/2025

MACS for MOMs Consultant Katrina Mark, MD, presented today on "Decreasing Stigma in Obstetric Care" at MedStar Health 's training, Pregnancy and Substance Use Disorder: Addressing Addiction, Stigma and the Role of Prenatal Care for the Pregnant Population.

Providers working in maternal healthcare settings can reach out to MACS for MOMs with questions regarding the care of pregnant and postpartum patients with substance use disorders or chronic pain. To connect with MACS for MOMs to schedule an individualized consultation or register for an upcoming educational opportunity, call 1-855-337-MACS (6227), email macs@som.umaryland.edu or visit www.marylandmacs.org.

05/12/2025

A new study published in JAMA Network Open compared rapid induction (RI) to standard induction (SI) for initiating extended-release buprenorphine, offering insights into effective strategies for individuals who inject opioids or use fentanyl.

➡️ Swipe to check out the key findings on how rapid induction may be a promising tool to increase retention in care. For more information, explore the full study using the link in our bio.

Healthcare providers, MACS offers support to help strengthen your care for patients with substance use disorders and chronic pain, including assistance in implementing medication-assisted treatment. Call 1-855-337-MACS (6227), email macs@som.umaryland.edu or visit www.marylandmacs.org to learn more.

🔗 Read the full study: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2840042.

04/12/2025

🤰 This month’s maternal health ECHO session is on Tuesday, December 9, from 12 to 1 p.m.

Join the session’s presenter Dr. Christopher Welsh as he focuses on the topic of “Benzodiazepines and Pregnancy.”

Register here to expand best practices in maternal health and substance use care: https://www.medschool.umaryland.edu/macsformoms/provider-support/macs-for-moms-echo-session/.

⚠️ Please note the registration changes that are on our MACS ECHO web page.

03/12/2025

Today, on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, MACS is showing support for accessible behavioral health care for every Marylander. Recognizing the unique challenges faced by individuals with disabilities, especially regarding substance use, pain management and co-occurring disorders, we strive to ensure that disability status is never a barrier to quality treatment.

Healthcare providers, call 1-855-337-MACS (6227), email macs@som.umaryland.edu or visit www.marylandmacs.org to connect with our team of addiction medicine specialists who can help address co-occurring disorders and assist with delivering comprehensive, accessible care to all your patients.

🔗 Learn more about this observance from the United Nations ’s resource page: https://www.un.org/en/observances/day-of-persons-with-disabilities.

02/12/2025

Register for our OTP ECHO session happening tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. The session’s guest presenter Dr. Thomas Carguilo will cover the topic of "Post-Incarceration Syndrome."

To register for our learning community specially designed for providers in OTP settings, visit the link here: https://www.marylandmacs.org/echo.

⚠️ Please note the registration changes that are on our MACS ECHO web page.

01/12/2025

Today, on , MACS is emphasizing our commitment to combating HIV-related stigma and supporting affected communities.

Addressing HIV exposure connected to Injection Drug Use (IDU) remains a vital public health priority across Maryland. According to Maryland Department of Health data as of 2023, 14% of all people living with diagnosed HIV in the state had an IDU exposure risk. Of these individuals, 70% had advanced disease, highlighting the need for early intervention and reduced barriers to treatment.

🔗 Check out Maryland Department of Health’s fact sheet to learn more: https://health.maryland.gov/phpa/OIDEOR/CHSE/SiteAssets/Pages/statistics/Injection-Drug-Use-Fact-Sheet-2023.pdf.

If you are looking for clinical assistance from the MACS team of addiction medicine specialists or need to access resources on behalf of patients, call 1-855-337-MACS (6227), email macs@som.umaryland.edu or visit www.marylandmacs.org.

26/11/2025

MACS ECHO sessions for December are quickly approaching! ⛄

Make sure to attend our OTP ECHO session on Wednesday, December 3. Our special guest presenter Dr. Thomas Carguilo will address the topic of "Post-Incarceration Syndrome."

To register for our learning community specially designed for providers in OTP settings, visit the link here: https://www.marylandmacs.org/echo.

⚠️ Please note the registration changes that are on our MACS ECHO web page.

25/11/2025

You still have time to register for our upcoming webinar!

Join us at noon next Wednesday, December 4, for a live, virtual CME webinar on "Confronting Stigma in Addiction Care."
MACS Consultant Michael Fingerhood, MD, will host the webinar and deliver valuable insights into addressing stigma that impacts both patients and providers.

🔗 Register here: https://macs.oasis-lms.com/URL/1204_Social.

For resources on how to help end stigma, including perspectives from your colleagues, visit: https://www.marylandmacs.org/resources/stigma-in-healthcare-settings/.

24/11/2025

MACS is getting into the spirit of giving! 🍂

We are thrilled to have supported the Thanksgiving 2025 Donation Drive in support of the University of Maryland School of Medicine ’s Project Feast, which has provided hot meals and donations to hundreds of Baltimore City residents on Thanksgiving Day for 35 years and counting.

We collected essential items for our community, including winter clothes, children’s toys and books, and nonperishable foods.

Thank you to our team for supporting our Baltimore neighbors this holiday season!

21/11/2025

Register for this asynchronous, online course from the American Society of Addiction Medicine - ASAM exploring the historical, biological, and social foundations of to***co use disorder (TUD). The course is eligible for continuing education credit and equips learners with tools for assessment, diagnosis, and treatment — including both pharmacologic and behavioral strategies. Learners will examine the relationship between TUD and co-occurring conditions, especially other SUDs, and learn to apply integrated care principles.

View the post below or visit the link here to register: https://ow.ly/FAbL50XtfOz.

Learn more and register >> https://ow.ly/VOfA50XtfOx

20/11/2025

Today is !

Along with celebrating the contributions of rural healthcare providers, we are sharing a recent study from the Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment exploring the impact of stigma on buprenorphine prescribing among rural primary care professionals. The research identified three major forms of stigma creating barriers to prescribing this life-saving treatment.

➡️ Swipe to learn more, and check out the full study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949875925000128.

🔗 In addition, MACS and the Maryland Department of Health have compiled resources helping providers address stigma in healthcare settings: https://bit.ly/HealthcareStigma.

👩‍💻 And finally, join us for a live CME webinar on Thursday, December 4, focused on the topic of “Confronting Stigma in Addiction Care”: https://macs.oasis-lms.com/URL/1204_Social.

Providers across Maryland's diverse communities can call 1-855-337-MACS (6227), email macs@som.umaryland.edu or visit www.marylandmacs.org to access individualized consultations and educational webinars related to substance use disorder and chronic pain management.

Maryland Rural Health Association