Congratulations to Sachini Bandara, CMAP’s Director of Training, for her promotion to Associate Professor! Sachini has been on the faculty at Johns Hopkins for 7 years and serves on the evaluation team for the Bloomberg Overdose Prevention Initiative.

We're here with Part 2 of our ultimate summer reading list! 🏖️ These book recommendations from CMAP students, faculty, and staff are perfect for those who want to broaden their perspective, spark engaging dialogue, or simply want a good read. Here's to a summer of reading! ✨ #readinglist #goodreads

Congratulations to Jirka Taylor, MPhil, MA, on successfully defending his PhD dissertation, “Examining linkage to care after non-fatal opioid overdoses: A mixed-methods study.” #dissertation #opioidusedisorder #ems #emergencydepartment

Congratulations to Catherine Ettman, PhD, on receiving the Milbank Quarterly Early Career Award in Population Health from IAPHS! The award recognizes exceptional early-career contributions to advancing population health research and impact. @milbankfund.bsky.social #PopulationHealth

Looking for your next summer read? 🌞 Swipe through to discover the book recommendations from our CMAP students, faculty, and staff as featured in our People Spotlights series. There's a book here for everyone; happy reading! 📚 #summerreads #fiction #bookrecs

Congratulations to Valerie Ganetsky, PharmD, MSc, on successfully defending her PhD dissertation, “Buprenorphine Dose and Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)-Related Outcomes Among Pregnant And Postpartum Individuals.” #dissertation #postpartum #pregnancy #opioidusedisorder

Happy Pride Month from our CMAP community to yours! We strive to support research initiatives that promote mental well-being and equity. Here to advocate and celebrate our LGBTQ+ community, today and always! 🌈 For more mental health resources, check out: www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/ca...

A new study from Andrew Anderson, PhD and Alene Kennedy-Hendricks, PhD, examines how state Medicaid policies shape the implementation of mobile crisis teams (MCTs). Read the full study: bit.ly/4uEfrQ8

🩺 We spoke with Dr. Olivia Sugarman, Assistant Scientist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, to understand how people receive, interpret, and share information about the drug supply. 🔗 Read the full story: bit.ly/4wjCkKw

May is Mental Health Awareness Month 💚 Mental health is essential, yet stigma and barriers still limit access to care. Let’s break the stigma, support one another, and create space for real conversations. Small actions can make a lasting impact!

📢 Our next Work-in-Progress session is next Tuesday! Michelle Bedoya and Danielle German will be presenting their current mental health research projects. 📅 Tuesday, May 5th 🕛 12 – 1 pm 📍 Ashland building, conference room 348 See you there!

This week’s student spotlight features PhD candidate Hridika Shah! Hridika discusses her research and the Bloomberg Overdose Prevention Initiative, and her undergraduate and graduate experiences at Hopkins. Check out her feature at our website: bit.ly/4sSw09L

Mental health crisis systems in the U.S. are under strain—and demand is growing. We spoke with Andrew Anderson, PhD, at BSPH about his work on mobile crisis services and how states can build more responsive, compassionate care. Read more: bit.ly/41D6fz4

April is Alcohol Awareness Month 💙 Learn more about how we can foster more open, judgment-free conversations around alcohol use.

This week’s student spotlight features visiting PhD student Emily Johnson! Emily shares her research interests, her journey into public health, and experiences studying abroad. Check out her feature at our website: bit.ly/4sKZNCb

New study alert 📣 New research using Denmark registry data highlights the long-term economic consequences of illness, showing that income loss can persist for up to a decade following diagnosis. Read the full publication: bit.ly/413j4CA

It’s not too late to get your copy of Losing Big: America's Reckless Bet on Sports Gambling for book club next week. Looking forward to seeing you all soon! 📅 Tuesday, March 31 🕛 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. 📍 1812 Ashland Ave, Room 348 (this event is in-person only!)

States & localities are actively deciding how to invest opioid settlement funds. It’s not too late to register. Hear what’s working—and what’s next—from leaders across public health, government, & harm reduction. 🗓 March 25 | 4 PM ET 🔗 bit.ly/CMAP-NEXUS4

⏳ 1 week to go! Over $50B in opioid settlement funds are being distributed nationwide. Join leaders across government, public health, & harm reduction to discuss what’s working + what’s next. 📍 Hopkins Bloomberg Center 🗓 March 25 | 4 PM ET 🔗 bit.ly/CMAP-NEXUS4

This week’s student spotlight features PhD candidate Michelle Bedoya! Michelle discusses her dissertation, what brought her to Hopkins, and the interconnectedness of public health and law. 🔗 bit.ly/4bMrYdz

⏳ 2 weeks to go! This week, we’re spotlighting our moderator and closing speaker for “Innovations in Opioid Settlement Fund Spending”: 🎤 Aneri Pattani (KFF Health News) 🎓 Regina LaBelle (Georgetown University School of Health) 🗓️ Join us March 25. 🔗 bit.ly/CMAP-NEXUS4

Facts matter. Lives matter. Alcohol and substance use affect individuals, families, and communities in different ways. This graphic highlight key facts and trusted resources for prevention and treatment. Informed communities are healthier communities!

📌 We spoke with Dr. Kenneth Feder, Assistant Research Professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, to better understand xylazine and medetomidine, alongside the health consequences they bring. 🔗 Read the full story on the CMAP Website: bit.ly/4les5ls

3 weeks to go! Join us for “Innovations in Opioid Settlement Fund Spending” to hear from: 🔹 Elizabeth Auch, PHN 🔹 Dalton Barrett, BS, CP-C 🔹 Alyssa Kitlas, MPH 💡 Hear how communities are putting opioid settlement funds to work. 🔗 bit.ly/CMAP-NEXUS4

📢 New speakers announced! @tmarieg.bsky.social joins our Innovations in Opioid Settlement Fund Spending convening as a panelist. We’ll also hear opening remarks from Abigail Winiker. 📅 Mar 25 | 4 PM ET 📍 Hopkins Bloomberg Center 🔗 Register: bit.ly/CMAP-NEXUS4

Overdose is now one of the leading causes of maternal death in the U.S. A new national study is investigating how federal- and state-level policies are impacting maternal care and substance use outcomes. Check out the full article on our website: bit.ly/4tz0lf0

Join CMAP & the Bloomberg Overdose Prevention Initiative for a convening on innovative uses of opioid settlement funds. Explore best practices, emerging innovations, and new 2024 tracking data. Hybrid event. Registration required. Register & Learn more: bit.ly/CMAP-NEXUS4

📢 Our next Work-in-Progress session is next Tuesday! Sachini Bandara and Sean Allen will be presenting their current mental health research projects. 📅 Tuesday, February 17th 🕛 12 – 1 pm 📍 Ashland building, conference room 348

Sports betting has exploded in popularity, but experts are becoming increasingly concerned about the public health implications. @mattdeisenberg.bsky.social and @markmeiselbach.bsky.social discuss how to make online sports gambling safer. 🎧 podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/1006-public-...

We’re proud to support awareness around prevention of substance use and misuse. The 22nd SAMHSA Prevention Day is an annual event that invites the prevention field together to advance the prevention of substance use and misuse. Learn more at: www.samhsa.gov/about/digita...

Mark your calendars! This semester we will continue our WIP/Book club series. Join us on the following Tuesdays at 1812 Ashland Ave, Room 348 from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. for work-in-progress sessions (hybrid) and book club meetings (in person only).

Join us next month for an ad hoc seminar on drug arrest diversion, presented by Panka Bencsik, Assistant Professor at Vanderbilt University! 📅 Wednesday, February 11 🕛 12:15 – 1:15 p.m. 📍 615 N. Wolfe Street, W3030 & Zoom

This week’s #StaffSpotlight features senior statistical programmer analyst Soren Clarkwest! He shares what inspired his path to public health, his current workflow, and some of his favorite books. Check out his feature at our website: bit.ly/4bJP9Wm

A new study finds that medical debt increases the risk of housing instability in the U.S. Housing instability may be one pathway linking medical debt to worse physical and mental health, highlighting the need for policy action. 🔗 bit.ly/49D3Esl

January is Substance Use Disorder Treatment Month. Treatment saves lives, recovery is possible, and everyone deserves access to evidence-based, compassionate care.

Happy holidays from all of us at CMAP! Wishing you a break full of rest, warmth, and maybe even a snow day or two ️❄️

Online sports betting can increase the risk of gambling disorder—raising concerns for mental health and substance use. @mattdeisenberg.bsky.social and @markmeiselbach.bsky.social highlight how state-by-state regulations create natural experiments for smarter interventions. 🔗 bit.ly/4qqxirS

This week’s #StudentSpotlight features PhD student Sarah Henderson! She shares what inspired her path to public mental health, her current research projects, and some of her favorite things to do. Check out her feature at our website: bit.ly/3N80lll

New study alert 📣 Individuals who screen positive for poor mental health are more likely to use buy now, pay later loans. These findings highlight a need for stronger consumer protections. Read the full publication: bit.ly/3MCVA37

📣 Applications are open for CMAP’s Summer 2026 Internship! Gain hands-on experience in mental health & policy research, work with faculty, and develop skills in research communications—all in a paid, hybrid role. 🗓 Apply by Feb 13, 2026 🔗 bit.ly/48Q6pWV

🚨 We’re expanding our team! The Center for Mental Health and Addiction Policy is seeking a Senior Data Analyst (119550), Research Assistant (119552), and Project Coordinator (to be posted). Apply here: hiring.jhu.edu Know a great candidate? Help us spread the word!

💡 We spoke with Assistant Professor Catherine Ettman, PhD, whose research uses national survey data to inform more equitable mental health policy. Her work on the @debeaumontfndtn.bsky.social-funded CLIMB Study has inspired 20+ peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals.

It’s not too late to get your copy of The Recovering: Intoxication and Its Aftermath for book club next week. Looking forward to seeing you all soon! 📅 Tuesday, December 16 🕛 Noon to 1 o’clock 📍 1812 Ashland Ave, Room 348 (this event is in-person only!)

If you're looking to hire great researchers at the intersection of policy, mental health, and substance use, check out three of our trainees on the job market! Read their spotlights on our website → 🔗 bit.ly/48cRmYm

Healing starts with connection. International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day aims to facilitate these connections by bringing together those with the shared experience of surviving suicide loss. Learn more at the @afspnational.bsky.social website: afsp.org/internationa...

This week’s #StudentSpotlight features PhD student Linh Tran! She shares what her research centers on, her highlight experiences at @bsph-hpm.bsky.social, and some of her favorite books. 🔗 Check out her feature at our website: bit.ly/4rbQ7A8

We spoke with CMAP leadership team member Mark Meiselbach, PhD, about his NIMH-funded K01 project examining how provider networks and policy incentives affect access to mental health care for older adults. 🔗 Full story: bit.ly/47DDhTx

📢 Our next Work-in-Progress session is next Tuesday! Christina Yuan, PhD, MPH, and Linh Tran, BA, will be presenting their current mental health research projects. 📅 Tuesday, November 18 🕛 12 – 1 pm 📍 Ashland building, conference room 348

A new study by Mudia Uzzi, PhD, MSc finds that Chicago neighborhoods affected by past and present structural racism have higher fatal opioid overdose rates. Structural racism may be a cause of overdose deaths, emphasizing the need for place-based policy interventions. 📰 bit.ly/49beabZ

A new @jama.com study, co-authored by Sachini Bandara, PhD, MS suggests that improving care for survivors of drug overdoses may require improving the quality of emergency response services and increasing layperson access to naloxone and overdose education. 🔗 bit.ly/4ou91k5