week4.docx

Compare the opioid-related overdose death rates of the selected population to national opioid-related overdose death rates.
       Comparing the opioid-related overdose death rates in Florida with the national average: In 2018, there were 15.8 opioid-involved overdose deaths per 100 000 persons (National Institute of Health, 2020). In the same year, there were 53.7 opioid prescriptions per 100 persons (National Institute of Health, 2020). Looking at the national average, in 2018, there were 20.7 opioid-involved overdose deaths per 100 000 persons (CDC, 2021). In the same year, there were 46.7 opioid prescriptions per 100 persons (CDC, 2021). From these figures, it is clear that the opioid-related death rates and prescriptions in Florida are close to those of the national average. This is a worrying trend because it suggests there is a huge problem of opioid abuse in the state.
Identify one primary, one secondary, and one tertiary prevention intervention to reduce the misuse of opioids in the selected population.
      In Florida, there are various ways of reducing the misuse of opioids. A primary intervention that can be used is the creation of a public awareness program, which reveals the dangers of misusing opioids. This awareness program should address the entire population in Florida. To cater to different age groups and communities, the program can be customized to ensure it is effective in passing the awareness message. The program will not only state the dangers of opioid misuse but also equip the public with the skills and information that are necessary to aid them in making informed choices whenever they have to use opioids for medical purposes (Kolodny et al., 2015).
A secondary intervention that can be used is the establishment of a policy that requires every individual who has a prescription for opioids to have a mandatory checkup every month (Kolodny et al., 2015). The objective will be to focus on the people who are at a high risk of misusing opioids. Through this program, each individual will be comprehensively evaluated and advised on how to safely use opioids without leading to undesirable consequences. Any individual who is found to be misusing his/her opioid prescription can then be referred to the tertiary prevention protocol.
A tertiary intervention that can be used in this regard is the Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT). This intervention is comprised of both psychotherapy and medication. The medication in this regard is naloxone, which works to reverse the adverse effects of opioids. Behavioral therapies should be incorporated to help the affected persons cope with cravings and get through their withdrawal (Timko et al., 2016). This intervention will target the people who have already been found to be abusing or misusing opioids.
Describe one evidence-based strategy to address provider opioid prescription rates.
       One evidence-based strategy to address provider opioid prescription rates is the use of e-prescribing. According to Everson et al. (2020), “e-prescribing has presented an opportunity to control the number of opioid prescriptions and ideally tamp down on the opioid epidemic” (p.1). This is because this practice enhances patient safety, facilitates drug price transparency, and improves workflow. More so, it ensures that prescription is done openly and is warranted. Hence, unscrupulous physicians will not prescribe medication illegally due to the transparency provided by the e-prescription program.
Identify the stakeholders charged with addressing the opioid crisis in your community.
       There are several stakeholders charged with addressing the opioid crisis in my community. First, there are the federal agencies, which offer guidelines and rules on the appropriate prescription of opioids. They include the CDC, DEA, and the FDA, among others. Second, there are professional associations such as pharmacists and healthcare providers. These are the ones that are directly tasked with the prescribing and dispensing of opioids. Hence, they have to adhere to strict codes, which ensure they do not act in ways that fuel the opioid crisis. Third, there is the State Government in Florida. This stakeholder should work closely with the federal agencies and the professional associations to craft ways of reducing opioid misuse in the state.
Share your professional experience related to the topic.
 
         My professional experience in this topic of the opioid crisis is quite extensive. I have interacted with many people who have suffered due to opioid misuse. Most of them have been veterans who have been taking opioids to manage the pain they have due to diverse physical injuries they have sustained while serving in the military. I have noticed that the people who prescribe such medication do so without offering support structures to ensure the drugs are not misused. Thus, I recommend that the federal government creates platforms, which offer these people extra support to prevent them from misusing opioids.
 
References
CDC. (2020, December). U.S. opioid dispensing rate maps. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/maps/rxrate-maps.html
CDC. (2021, March). Drug overdose deaths. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/data/statedeaths.html
Everson, J., Cheng, A. K., Patrick, S. W., & Dusetzina, S. B. (2020). Association of electronic prescribing of controlled substances with opioid prescribing rates. JAMA Network Open, 3(12), e2027951-e2027951.
Kolodny, A., Courtwright, D. T., Hwang, C. S., Kreiner, P., Eadie, J. L., Clark, T. W., & Alexander, G. C. (2015). The prescription opioid and heroin crisis: A public health approach to an epidemic of addiction. Annual Review of Public Health, 36, 559-574.
National Institute of Health. (2020, April). Opioid summaries by state. National Institute on Drug Use. https://www.drugabuse.gov/drug-topics/opioids/opioid-summaries-by-state
Timko, C., Schultz, N. R., Cucciare, M. A., Vittorio, L., & Garrison-Diehn, C. (2016). Retention in medication-assisted treatment for opiate dependence: a systematic review. Journal of Addictive Diseases, 35(1), 22-35.