Drug Overdose Prevention Information

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October 6, 2020

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

Comprehensive Opioid Stimulant and Substance Abuse Program Harm Reduction Case Study: Marion County, IN

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As overdose rates in Marion County have increased, the rate of hepatitis C has also increased to 10 times the amount from 2012 to 2018, according to the Institute for Intergovernmental Research. About 86% of these cases were related to injection drug use, and Marion County received a grant to fund harm reduction activities and supplies, specifically related to the syringe service program (SSP).

SSPs target the complex issues related to drug overdoses, as well as preventing the spread of infectious diseases that can result from substance use. These programs have peer recovery coaches on the front lines, handing out clean syringes for individuals affected by substance use disorders while educating them about recovery options and reducing barriers preventing these individuals from receiving care. Program coordinators have been holding educational trainings for law enforcement. The Marion County Public Health Department continues to conduct a study evaluating the outcomes associated with the SSP.


Vital Signs: Characteristics of Drug Overdose Deaths Involving Opioids and Stimulants — 24 States and the District of Columbia, January–June 2019

A recent paper published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention utilized data from the State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS). The study found that in recent years, the factors of overdose deaths have changed from being cause by one particular drug to involving several substances. Approximately 80% of overdose deaths involved opioids, and three out of four of those deaths also involved illicitly manufactured fentanyls (IMFs).

About 85% of all deaths included other illicit drugs: heroin, cocaine and methamphetamines. This information is important to the public health response to outbreaks and informs the interventions and policies used to address the outbreak. It also ensures resources are going to the right places and doing what they intend to do for the affected community.


A New Approach to Breaking the Cycle: Creating a Shift in Emergency Medical Services to Address Substance Use Disorder

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Many EMS calls associated with overdose are for the same individuals that EMS professionals have treated before. EMS professionals are focused on providing physical relief from overdose, but the root cause of the overdose is never addressed. A program called “Five Minutes to Help” has been designed and implemented to prevent the current cycle of emergency medical service (EMS) calls to overdose health crises.

The online module and classroom activities educate EMS professionals on motivational interviewing and applying it to drug overdose situations. The program also educates about the stigma associated with substance use disorder and what resources are available for affected individuals. These measures hope to change EMS perception of those with substance use disorder and allow frustrated professionals the opportunity to help the individual recover, even if they have to offer resources to the individual multiple times before they accept help. With decreased calls, it can also alleviate the financial burden of these overdoses on the EMS system.


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UPCOMING EVENTS

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ECHO Clinic for First Responders: Opioid Use Disorders

Noon - 1:30 p.m. ET every other Tuesday from Oct. 6 to Feb. 2, 2021

This Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) clinic focuses on educating first responders about opioid use disorder (OUD), starting with the basics of defining the disorder and discussing issues related to OUD that first responders face.

Click here to register.

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Understanding Return to Use and Reuse Prevention

9 a.m. – noon ET, Friday, Oct. 9

This training addresses the need for non-addiction professionals to understand substance use disorders. This particular training goes through how and why people return to use in an effort to increase positive outcomes for patients, families and communities.

Click here to register.

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Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution Programs in Jails Webinar

2 p.m. - 3 p.m ET, Thursday Oct. 15

This webinar focuses on implementing overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) programs for individuals in correctional facilities. Those incarcerated are more likely to have an active substance use disorder and fatal drug overdose within two weeks of release into the general public. OEND programs mitigate these risks by addressing the two biggest barriers to care: 1) locating and engaging in the population in a non-threatening way, and 2) providing training and naloxone for those willing to participate.

Click here to register.

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Public Health Live! Person-Centered Healthcare in Planning and Practice

9 a.m. - 10 a.m. ET, Thursday, Oct. 22

This webcast will present a conceptual understanding of person-centered planning and practice, focusing on improved individual outcomes and quality of life. The webcast will emphasize the universality of person-centeredness regardless of situation, life circumstance, or age, as well as how the philosophy and core concepts of person-centered planning are being put into practice in care management settings.

Click here to register.

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