Drug Overdose Prevention Newscast

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

New DOP header

July 28, 2021

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

Gender Disparities in Opioid Treatment Progress in Methadone Versus Counseling

According to an article in Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, women and racial/ethnic minorities have a high dropout rate (75%) in opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment in the United States. The gold standard of care in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment is counseling and medication for OUD (MOUD, e.g. methadone, buprenorphine, naltrexone), however, most individuals with OUD receive either counseling or methadone-only services. This study found that clients receiving methadone, the most common and highly effective MOUD in reducing opioid use, were less likely to make progress toward or to complete their treatment plan than those receiving counseling. Women, and in particular those identified as Latinas, were least likely to benefit from methadone-based programs. These findings have implications for health policy and program design that consider the need for comprehensive and culturally responsive services in methadone-based programs to improve outpatient treatment outcomes among women.


Viewpoint: Debunking Rhetoric Around Syringe Exchanges

Needle exchange

In a brief essay, future doctors who will treat substance use disorders (SUDs) in Indiana have addressed the misinformation and misunderstandings surrounding syringe services programs (SSPs). Their main point is that the rhetoric that SSPs, sometimes also known as needle exchange programs, are enabling drug addiction is simply false. Information in the essay included that SSPs provide access to safe disposal of used injection equipment and connect clients to other important services such as vaccinations, blood-borne illness screenings and treatment, in addition to SUD treatment. The authors also discuss how studies indicate that SSPs decrease drug use and that participants are five times more likely to begin drug treatment programs and 60% more likely to complete treatment than those who began without first participating in an SSP.  To read more of the article click here.


Drug Overdose Epidemic in Indiana: Behind the Numbers

This updated report from the Indiana Department of Health’s Drug Overdose Prevention (DOP) team focuses on fatal overdoses, and it is important to note that these data underscore the larger issue of the driver behind the drug and opioid epidemic ― substance use disorder (SUD). Communities are encouraged to recognize SUD as a disease, understand that treatment is available and that recovery from the disease is possible. SUD impacts every county, and to address this problem, the risk and protective factors associated with this disease must be understood. This report was created to disseminate useful and pertinent data to Indiana residents and community leaders to promote dialogue about overdose deaths and SUD disease prevention in their communities to improve the health of all Hoosiers. Read the full report.


Drug Overdose Dashboard

Looking for drug overdose data? State and county level data relating to drug overdose deaths, nonfatal overdoses, opioid prescribing and much more can be found on the Drug Overdose Dashboard. Additional overdose data can be found on StatsExplorer. Please feel free to reach out to the DOP team with any data questions.

Follow us! @INDTrauma

twitter

Check out our website:

world wide web logo
light blue divider

UPCOMING EVENTS

blue divider

ASPIN And MHTTC Criminal Justice Cultural Competency Series

Noon – 1:30 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, July 28

This webinar, “What to Do and What Not to Do, When Working with Involuntary and Incarcerated Populations,” will discuss techniques for clinical therapists and others who work with those involved with involuntary and incarcerated populations.

Click here to register.

light blue divider

Innovations in Treating Stress & Trauma in Women with Alcohol Use Disorder

Noon—1 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, July 28

Join the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism for an informative and interactive free webinar. Recent increases in rates of alcohol use disorder in women have been linked to stress and trauma. Our conversation will focus on vulnerable populations, such as women living with HIV and female veterans with military sexual trauma. Advances in treatments, including community partnerships and medication development targeting stress, will be discussed. You will be able to view this event on the day of the event.

Please RSVP to dana.west@icf.com

light blue divider

Treating the Heart of Addiction: NAADAC

3 - 4 p.m. EDT, Wednesday Aug. 11

There has been recent emphasis on the role of beliefs, motivation, and medication in the treatment of disorders, including substance use disorder and gambling disorder. This session examines the role of emotion in the development and maintenance of these disorders, as well as the role of emotions in treatment. As treatment moves toward medical models, this discussion considers the heart of emotions and therapeutic alliance as central parts of the change process to establish freedom from the harmful behavioral processes and attainment of long-term recovery.

Click here to register.