Drug Overdose Prevention Information

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March 3, 2020

Here are your weekly opioid epidemic updates from the Indiana State Department of Health:

Safe Passage: How Central Illinois law enforcement agencies are offering a path to help with addiction

Safe Passage allows people struggling with addiction to turn in their drugs and ask for help from participating law enforcement agencies. The Safe Passage program began in Massachusetts and spread to Illinois in 2015. Since then, other communities’ law enforcement agencies have adopted the initiative, including Taylorville, Kincaid, Pana, Springfield, Lincoln, McLean County and Livingston County; others continue to be added to the program, including most recently Mattoon. This program has the possibility of expanding to other states, including Indiana.


One in Four Opioid Overdoses Involves Kids and Teens

According to preliminary research from a 13-year study period, more than a quarter of all opioid overdoses in the United States involve teenagers, with a fifth of those cases likely suicide attempts. The proportion of suspected child suicides due to an opioid poisoning increased from 14 percent in 2005 to more than 21 percent in 2018. Recommendations focus on keeping opioids out of sight and reach of children and teens to reduce accidental exposure and intentional drug misuse.

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White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP): 2020 National Drug Control Strategy

Some of ONDCP’s goals include:

  1. Increase the use of prescription drug monitoring programs.
  2. Disrupt the sale of illicit substances on the internet.
  3. Reduce opioid use among youth.
  4. Increase the number of health care workers who can prescribe buprenorphine.

These goals are a small part of the White House’s strategy. The overarching strategic outcome is: “Building a stronger, healthier, drug-free society today and in the years to come by drastically reducing the number of Americans losing their lives to drug addiction in today’s crisis, and preparing now to dominate the drug environment of the future. This will be done by preventing initiates to drug use, providing treatment services leading to long-term recovery for those suffering from addiction, and aggressively reducing the availability of illicit drugs in America’s communities.”

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UPCOMING EVENTS

 

SAMHSA Grant Application: Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers

SAMHSA is accepting applications for Comprehensive Opioid Recover Centers (CORC) grants. The purpose of the program is the operation of comprehensive centers that provide a full spectrum of treatment and recovery support services to address the opioid epidemic. SAMHSA plans to issue two grants of up to $850,000 per year for up to four years.

Application Due Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2020

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Medication-Assisted Treatment Waiver Training

Dr. Emily Zarse, M.D., will present the eight-hour required training which upon completion, attendees will receive a certificate to then apply for a MAT Waiver. There is a shortage of providers to fulfill this need so we encourage all to take advantage of this opportunity. This activity will assist physicians, nurses, physician assistants and psychiatrists who wish to apply for a waiver to prescribe buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid use disorders. Register here.

Date: 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 17, Indianapolis

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2020 Governor's Next Level Recovery Conference

The 2020 Governor's Next Level Recovery Conference will focus on successful strategies to tackle the drug epidemic.

Participants will be able to hear from individuals who have implemented successful strategies at the local level in Indiana. There is also an opportunity to learn what Indiana is doing to combat the drug epidemic, including programming around prevention, treatment, enforcement and recovery.

Featuring keynote speaker US Surgeon General VADM Jerome M. Adams, MD, MPH

Date: Thursday, April 23, 2020, Indianapolis