More Americans see opioid addiction as a significant issue for their community today than in 2016, according to a recent survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Forty-three percent of Americans say the use of prescription pain drugs is a serious problem in their community, up from 33 percent two years ago. Additionally, 37 percent see heroin as a serious concern locally, up from 32 percent in 2016. Read More

The American Pharmacists Association, through its Opioid Use, Abuse and Misuse Resource Center, works to engage pharmacists and other health professionals in the latest recommendations and guidance on opioid drug abuse prevention, education, and assistance. Includes resource guides, training webinars, opioid news alerts, and more.

View the resource.

In response to the opioid epidemic, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioned the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to form a committee to update its 2011 report Relieving Pain in America: A Blueprint for Transforming Prevention, Care, Education, and Research. The goal was for the committee to address the role of opioids in pain management, review the epidemiology of the opioid epidemic and the strategies to address it, and to identify actions that FDA and other government offices and organizations can take to address it.

There was a also a focus on identifying the individual and society-level considerations in developing a “risk-benefit framework for opioid approval and monitoring.” The findings of the committee are presented in a new report from the National Academies.

Read the report.

Nearly 2,500 teens begin abusing prescription drugs each day (source: SAMHSA). The CRC Health Group created this infographic to increase awareness about the potential dangers of prescription medications. They also provide tips for prescription drug safety and provide a search feature to find a treatment facility for those struggling with prescription drug addiction.

Website

In October 2017, the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) published a guide to support State-level policymakers in identifying mechanisms for preventing opioid addiction, reducing deaths from overdoses, and improving treatment programs. It also presented research and guidance on improving addiction care in the criminal justice system. The rise in opioid addiction and death in the U.S. cannot be overstated, and the lack of coordinated federal efforts leaves the burden on State and local governments and partners. This guide provides key recommendations on a public health approach to managing the opioid epidemic.

Read the complete guide from CASA.

As people approach retirement, various life changes can lead to an increase in prescription drug abuse. These life changes – like divorce, an empty nest, or the loss of a parent or a spouse – may lead a person to feel more socially isolated and turn to addictive substances as a means to self-medicate difficult feelings and emotions. Retirement also can prompt anxiety and stress. As older individuals approach these transitional life events, it is important for family members to be actively aware of any changes in their behavior that may reflect opioid misuse.

View the fact sheet.

Prescription opioids can be used appropriately, as prescribed by a doctor, in a couple ways. They can be taken orally in their original pill form, or they can be administered by an oral film patch, which dissolves in the mouth. Opioids can also be administered  intravenously, in cases of pain management. Prescription opioids can be misused a number of ways, too.

View the resource from Shatterproof.

Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines are those that can be sold directly to people without a prescription. OTC medicines treat a variety of illnesses and their symptoms including pain, coughs and colds, diarrhea, constipation, acne, and others. Some OTC medicines have active ingredients with the potential for misuse at higher-than-recommended dosages.

Misuse of an OTC medicine means taking medicine in a way or dose other than directed on the package, taking medicine for the effect it causes— for example, to get high, or mixing OTC medicines together to create new products.

View the fact sheet from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

According to research conducted by the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, one in four teens say they have taken a prescription medicine – that was not prescribed to them — at least once in their lifetime. This behavior cuts across geographic, racial, ethnic and socioeconomic boundaries. Two-thirds (66 percent) of teens who report abuse of prescription pain relievers are getting them from friends, family and acquaintances.

View the fact sheet from the Partnership and The Medicine Abuse Project.

Realizing that your teen or young adult child needs help for his or her substance use can be scary and overwhelming, and chances are you have no idea where to begin. There is no one-size-fits-all answer so it can take a fair amount of research to figure out what type of help your child needs, and how to get it. No matter where you are emotionally, mentally or physically, our collaborator, the Partnership for Drug Free Kids, can help.

View their resource.