Drug Overdose Prevention Newscast

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November 10, 2020

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

Prevention and Treatment of HIV Among People Living with Substance Use and/or Mental Disorders

This evidence-based guide, created by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA, reviews intervention strategies for individuals living with substance use and mental disorders who are also at risk for HIV. The goal is to provide the community with resources to prevent substance misuse and help those with  a substance use disorder as well as mental illnesses. This guide includes research findings and literature related to this issue, examines new and emerging best practices, and identifies what challenges may lie ahead for implementation. The interventions outlined in this guide follow the goals of the federal “Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America” initiative.


The Opioid Crisis and Children: The Critical Role of Law Enforcement

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In 2019, the United States saw a record high of 71,000 fatal drug overdoses, which have been steadily increasing in 2020. Children have been identified as being at risk for physical and emotional harm as a result of illegal drug use, according to the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children (National DEC). Law enforcement (LE) can play a role in mitigating the harm children experience. Since LE officers return to the same household for drug related calls, this provides an opportunity for LE officers to take note of the children in the home, and assess whether they are at risk. Many LE organizations are involved with multidisciplinary initiatives that help to detect and intervene in a safe way when the child is at risk. An example of this includes a National DEC practice called Handle with Care (HWC), which allows police officers to recognize trauma and direct children to the necessary resources. This is important because it ensures the safety of children while allowing family to receive the proper treatment for opioid use disorders.


CDC Releases Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Data Summary and Trends Report

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have released the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Data Summary and Trends Report, which provides a detailed look into sexual behavior, high-risk substance use, experience of violence, mental health and suicide. This report examines 24 variables and covers three new health behaviors: recent prescription opioid misuse, STD testing, and HIV testing. Data on health behaviors and experiences of sexual minority youth from 2015, 2017 and 2019 are included. This survey is important because it allows for examination of the need to protect the health and wellbeing of students in the United States, from mental health to sexual education.


Drug Free Communities Program: Partnering to Prevent Youth Substance Use

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The Drug-Free Communities (DFC) is the nation’s leading effort to help prevent and reduce substance abuse among youth. The DFC program’s day to day management are conducted by the CDC under an agreement with the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). The DFC program began in 1997 and provides grants to community coalitions to help strengthen infrastructure among local partners, which allows for a reduction in local youth substance use. Multiple sectors of the community are engaged, which helps to address the local substance use problems in the community, while helping youths understand that the majority of the Nation’s youth choose not to use substances. This in turn encourages this population to seek out resources and treatment in order to help them lower their substance use.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Strategies for Non-Opioid Pain Management: A Panel Discussion

2:30 – 3:30 p.m. ET, Tuesday, Nov. 10

This panel discussion, hosted by Resource for Integrated Care, will discuss non-opioid pain management strategies, with a specific focus on treating individuals who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. This panel is intended for health care professionals, serving individual experiencing pain and staff at health plans. For more information on this event visit the Resources for Integrated Care site, here.

To register for this event, click here.

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The National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) is looking for input on resources provided during National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week (NDAFW) is looking for input

NIDA has created a voluntary, brief survey that you can take to provide feedback and share thoughts on the information NIDA has given so far.

Deadline: Friday, Nov. 13

Take the Survey

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Opioid Safety and Alternatives Conference

Wednesday, Nov. 18

Deadline: Friday, Nov. 13

The Marion County Public Health Department has opened registration for the Opioid Safety and Alternative Conference. This conference is geared towards medical professionals, and is free to attend. Up to seven continuing medical education credits are available to those who attend.

Click here to register.

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Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) ECHO

Noon – 1:30 p.m., ET, Monday, Nov. 16

The IU School of Medicine, in partnership with the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), is hosting the Indiana NAS TeleECHO Clinic to learn more about caring for infants experiencing NAS and neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) symptoms. This free, virtual series will occur every other week from Nov. 16 through April 26, 2021. The target audience is healthcare professionals that work with patients with NAS/NOWS and their families. This event does offer CEU credits to qualifying attendees.

To register for this event and see a full calendar of dates and topics, click here.

Cocaine, Meth and Stimulant Summit

Friday, Nov. 20 to Saturday, Nov. 22

The Cocaine, Meth and Stimulant Summit is offering an online educational event that will provide clinical, law enforcement, and public health professionals with strategies and solutions to address the current stimulant crisis. Those who attend will have the opportunity to engage with field leaders who are working to address the under-recognized opioid epidemic. This event is geared towards professionals who specialize in addiction, behavioral, mental health, and law enforcement.

To register for this event, click here.