Adelphi University’s Center for Health Innovation continues to tackle some of the toughest issues of today. In 2012, 1.2 million people age 12 and older on Long Island and our immediate surrounding area were classified as living with a substance use disorder according to the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administrations, National Survey on Drug Use and Health. For this reason, gaining insight into how mental health professionals understand and treat addiction is a critical health need for our community and the nation.
On July 29, Adelphi’s Center for Health Innovation (CHI) released the results of a poll on addiction and treatment trends. Adelphi has a long standing interest in how we can assist local communities in dealing with substance abuse and mental health. We were the first institute of higher education in New York State designated as a disposal site for National Take-Back Drug Day, a day designed to provide a responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also providing education to the public about potential for the abuse of medication. Through such efforts Adelphi University is taking an active and leading role in bringing together communities and providing data about an often stigmatized, deliberating condition effecting patients, families and communities.
Utilizing the knowledge and expertise from faculty, students and alumni, CHI seeks to find innovative ways of creating a culture of health by providing insight and data focused on both our communities; our most pressing needs and our greatest strengths. CHI’s research and practice is focused on strengthening what works well in communities on a daily basis and addressing social, educational, physical, emotional and economic health. CHI’s mission is to provide a foundation for creating community partnerships and leadership—with the goal of meeting current and emergent healthcare needs. We seek to ask and answer questions that help us understand how we can contribute to a culture of health in our communities and across the nation, we hope this type of commitment to our families and communities can help move the conversation forward and find solutions.
Written by
Elizabeth Cohn, Ph.D., RN, Director
Center for Health Innovation
Adelphi University
