The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) awarded the Medical Education and Support Services for Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs) to DB Consulting Group, Inc. (DB). DB has teamed with JBS International, Inc. (JBS) to perform this five-year, $7.5 million-contract aimed at expanding access to medication assisted treatment (MAT) for opiate addiction and improving the quality of services through education and the implementation of evidence-based practices.

DB and JBS bring a 20-year history of successfully managing previous iterations of this contract, which include the Opiate Addiction Technical Assistance Project, Opioid Treatment Technical Assistance Project, and the Education, Training and Professional Development of Health Care Providers in OTPs. Critical to the contract award was the team’s record of training more than 1,500 medical and clinical professionals in proper prescribing practices over a 12-month period, assisting approximately1,200 OTPs with implementing streamlined administration and management processes, and ensuring curriculum, training programs, and policies reflected current data on shifting trends in drugs of abuse and patient demographics.

“We are excited about the opportunity to apply our first-hand experience and understanding of what works and why to SAMHSA,” Chief Executive Officer of DB Gerald Boyd, Jr. said. “Although continuity of services is our first priority, we also are aware that this new contract offers an opportunity for us to build on what we know and launch new initiatives, such as online interactive skills-building trainings and the use of social media to provide technical assistance.”