Prescription Opioid and Heroin Epidemic Awareness Week - September 18-24, 2016
President Obama proclaimed September 18-24, 2016, as Prescription Opioid and Heroin Epidemic Awareness Week.
During Prescription Opioid and Heroin Epidemic Awareness Week, the White House will host parents affected by the epidemic. Attorney General Lynch and other Justice Department officials—as well as U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country—will participate in over 160 different events. The Department of Agriculture will host state forums on the epidemic in Connecticut and Colorado. Veterans Affairs Secretary McDonald will lead a forum in Washington, DC, on treatment and support for veterans with opioid use disorder.
Prescription drug misuse and abuse is defined as the use of a medication without a prescription, in a way other than as prescribed, or to experience a “high”. According to several National surveys, prescription medications, such as those used to treat pain, attention deficit disorders, and anxiety, are being abused at a rate second only to marijuana among illicit drug users. The consequences of this abuse have been steadily worsening.
Most young people who misuse and abuse prescription drugs are taking medications prescribed to others, often friends and family members. It is estimated that up to sixty percent of prescribed medications are unused by patients and much of this unused medication remains in private homes. Often these unused medications are not stored securely in homes providing easy access to young people and others seeking medications to abuse. Prescription drug abuse including opioids is linked to abuse of and addiction to other non-scheduled opiates such as heroin.
To address the prescription medication abuse and the opioid crisis in Washington the Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR) along with partnering agencies support prescription drug misuse and abuse prevention strategies that align with the Washington State Opioid Response Plan.
Strategies for preventing prescription medications abuse
· Promote the use of home lock boxes to prevent unintended access to medication.
· Promote State and National initiatives including the Bi-annual Drug Enforcement Agency National Prescription Medication Take Back Day October 22, 2016.
· Work with your community coalitions to implement strategies to prevent youth prescription drug misuse.
Resource links for preventing prescription medications abuse
Prevent Rx Abuse a CADCA Toolkit
The Medicine Abuse Project – Partnership for Drug Free Kids
Washington State links
The Athena Forum Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Page
Washington State Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP)
