Opioid Epidemic: A Literature Review

Community Strategies to Address the Opioid Epidemic: A Literature Review

Francis Melaragni

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences University

Abstract

Introduction

The impact of opioid drug abuse which includes both misuse of prescribed medication and illegal consumption of heroin and other opioids has become and been declared a public health emergency in Massachusetts and many other states. This problem has also been recognized as an urgent issue at the national level, and has received focus and attention from The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The purpose of this literature review is to assess what tactics and

2015 Vermont responds to its opioid crisis Literature Review NA Coordinated efforts between the Vermont Department of Health's Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs (ADAP) have resulted in the creation of the Care Alliance for Opioid Addiction (or Hub & Spoke model).

Smith, R.J. 2015 How, why, and for whom do emergency medicine providers use prescription drug monitoring programs? Physician Interviews 61 PDMPs are used for multiple purposes, including identifying opioid misuse and enhancing provider-patient communication. Given variation in practice, standards may help direct indication and manner of physician use. Steps to minimize administrative barriers to PDMP access are warranted.

Wagner, K.D. 2014 Evaluation of an overdose prevention and response training programme for injection drug users in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles, CA. Informant Interviews 21 Overdose prevention and response training programs may be associated with improved overdose response behavior, with few adverse consequences and some unforeseen benefits, such as reductions in personal drug use

Results

Outcomes The articles selected addressed strategies and tactics being employed by the federal government, state governments, and local communities throughout the United States as they confront and manage the impact of the opioid

The key to safer and more effective prescribing is to educate doctors about addiction and alternative approaches to pain management. The State programs cited by CDC include an increased effort to monitor and intervene in areas of high-risk prescribing. The PDMP are tools that have been implemented in most states and these create a central database to enable prescribers and dispensers to see all prescription activity for certain classes of opioids (CDC,