CASAC Association News and Blog
Study Finds Even “Moderate” Alcohol Use May Increase Health Risks
For years, many people have believed that moderate alcohol consumption carries little or no health risk. A newly published study is challenging that assumption, suggesting that even relatively low levels of alcohol use may contribute to an increased risk of...
News Brief: DEA Finalizes Permanent Changes to Buprenorphine Prescribing
A significant federal policy change is now officially in effect that could improve access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) across the United States. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has finalized regulations that permanently eliminate the...
Trauma-Informed Treatment Planning Under OASAS: A Briefing for NYS CASAC Continuing Education
Every CASAC working in an OASAS-certified program already knows the treatment plan has changed. The standalone document is gone. The fixed 30, 90, and 180-day review schedule is gone, too. What replaced it gets less attention than it should. Trauma...
The Neuroscience of Addiction: A Clinical Overview for NYS CASAC Continuing Education
The Neuroscience of Addiction: A Clinical Overview for NYS CASAC Continuing Education The brain research on substance use disorder has moved fast in the last decade. For credentialed CASAC professionals, staying current on this research is not just a box...
Kratom in 2026: What CASACs Need to Know About Potency, Risk, and the Changing Market
Kratom in 2026: What CASACs Need to Know About Dependence, Withdrawal, Tolerance, and High-Potency Products Five years ago, most substance use counselors in New York barely heard clients mention kratom. Now it is everywhere. Gas stations. Vape shops. Convenience...
NYS Overdose Deaths Dropped 32% in 2024. What That Number Means and What It Does Not.
NYS Overdose Deaths Dropped 32% in 2024. Here Is What That Number Does Not Tell You. The headline is real. The full picture is more complicated. CASACs on the front lines need both. An estimated 4,567 New Yorkers died of a drug overdose in 2024, down from 6,688...
Youth SUD Is Not Adult SUD, Smaller: What the New ASAM Criteria Changes
New ASAM Youth SUD Criteria guidance for adolescents and transition-aged youth strengthens level-of-care decisions, co-occurring care, and payer accountability. The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) has introduced new, youth-specific standards for...
3 Micro-Skills Every CASAC Can Use Tomorrow to Boost Engagement and Retention
Real session tools for substance use counseling that reduce power struggles, strengthen relapse prevention, and make documentation faster. You don’t need another training filled with ideas you’ll never use. Instead, what you truly need is focused guidance on...
News Brief: SAMHSA Updated Funding Guidance for Harm Reduction Services
News Brief: SAMHSA issues new federal funding restrictions on harm reduction supplies (April 24, 2026) On April 24, 2026, SAMHSA released an updated “Dear Colleague” guidance letter that changes how SAMHSA discretionary grant funds may be used for harm...
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Stay Informed. Stay Connected.
Subscribe to the NYS Association of CASAC Professionals Newsletter and never miss critical updates that shape your work and your future. Get the latest on training opportunities, statewide advocacy, workforce developments, and member spotlights — delivered right to your inbox.
Join a growing network of CASAC professionals committed to elevating the field, strengthening our voice, and advancing behavioral health across New York.
Subscribe today and be the first to know about upcoming events, exclusive resources, and opportunities to make an impact.
