February 15, 2022 - York, PA
The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP), visited WellSpan Surgery & Rehabilitation Hospital to discuss substance use disorder (SUD) in the health care field, highlight the importance of education and prevention for health care workers, and to remind the field of available treatment resources."Health care professionals have been under immense pressure over the past two years due to longer hours, secondary trauma or compassion fatigue, and unfortunately; a pandemic that has not let up," said Secretary Jen Smith. "No one is immune to the disease of addiction, and studies have shown that extra stressors placed on the health care field leaves them more vulnerable to substance use and misuse. We must ensure that employers and employees have resources available to support individuals suffering from substance use disorder."In May 2021, DDAP announced Just Five, a self-paced program to increase awareness, reduce stigma, and provide education about SUD prevention and treatment. The six short learning modules each take "just five" minutes to complete and can be accessed virtually from anywhere at any time with no registration required. Use of the Just Five website is completely confidential and voluntary, and no personal information regarding utilization of the program is shared. The program is also available in English and Spanish and accessible for individuals with visual and/or hearing impairments.
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