The Opioid Epidemic: Panhandle Response

Training Opportunities Narcan Training Increase Access to Naloxone Partnering with Pharmacies, Law Enforcement and Fire Departments to increase the availability of naloxone across the Panhandle. We know this is a strategy that saves lives.    Medication Assisted Treatment in the Panhandle Addiction is a Neurological Disease. MAT services are effective to treat addition acting as a guide to a full recovery for a self-directed life.   Medication Disposal Dispose of your leftover medications at one of the safe and legal no cost disposal sites across the Panhandle.   Safe Storage of Prescription Medications Partnering with agencies and health systems across the Panhandle to increase knowledge on how and why to safely store prescription medications.

Amphetamine Training March 24, 2021 11 am - 1 pm Mountain Time Training Objectives: · Overview and what are amphetamines versus other drugs · Slang terms and history  · Current medical uses and trends · Physical versus mental/emotional addiction · Long term use complications · Treatment options · Helpful tips for family members dealing with someone with an addiction. ·  How amphetamines affect the brain Contact Nicole at nberosek@pphd.org to register for the training.

Nebraska Pain Management Guidance Document

A provider and Community Resource.  Promotes consistent, safe, and effective management standards for Nebraska prescribers.  It includes information on treating acute pain, chronic pain, non-opioid options for pain treatment, treating pain in special populations, and opioid tapering/discontinuation.  An educational training video on the DHHS website complements the content of this document to assist in training Nebraska’s providers in safe pain management.

 

Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) Access

The Nebraska Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) is a unique statewide tool that collects dispensed prescription medication information and is housed on the Health Information Exchange (HIE) platform. The Nebraska PDMP is a public health model focusing on patient safety. In order to facilitate provisioning and other registration processes for the Nebraska PDMP, DHHS has moved to an online form to improve efficiency.

 

Media Campaigns

Increase awareness that prescription opioids can be addictive and dangerous.  To decrease the number of individuals who use opioids recreationally or overuse them.

 

Nebraska’s Legislative Response

Addresses prescription opioid abuse by adopting and strengthening an electronic prescription drug monitoring program; relaxing rules for administering life-saving, overdose reversing drugs; and granting immunity from prosecution for drug crimes related to individuals who call for help during an apparent overdose.