Moderator: Karen H. Perry, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Narcotics Overdose Prevention and Education (NOPE) Task Force, and Member, National Rx Drug Abuse & Heroin Summit Advisory Board

CE Certified By: AMA,AAFP,ACPE,ADA,ANCC,APA,MCHES,GA Bar,NASW

State policymakers are fervently pursuing a variety of approaches to stem the tide of the nation’s opioid epidemic. Some states are further along the learning curve than others. In this session, two national nonprofit organizations will present lessons learned from state responses across the country. Participants will take home proven strategies to implement in their states.

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) published "Ending the Opioid Crisis: A Practical Guide for State Policymakers" in October 2017 to help state policymakers address the opioid epidemic — and the larger public health crisis of addiction. CASA recognized policymakers’ need for solutions that bridge the profound gap between what research demonstrates to be effective and the practices currently in use. In response, the guide culls proven and promising strategies from evidence-based resources to offer a clear and concise set of actions states can take. Based on the guide, presenters will explain how to implement a public health approach — equipping policymakers to replace misinformation and stigma with research-based facts and practical, health-based solutions. They will offer examples of data-informed and treatment-focused programs and initiatives on the state and local levels that can serve as models for states seeking to implement evidence-based prevention, early intervention, treatment, disease management and recovery support. Presenters will identify key objectives and fundamental steps that states must take to change the course of the opioid epidemic.

From Shatterproof, the presenter will draw from the organization’s experience advocating for state policies to respond to the opioid epidemic. Using evidence-based and scientifically verified data, the presenter will recommend legislative action for states to implement immediately to prevent overdoses and addiction related fatalities. Using scorecards developed from a consensus of experts in the field, states will be evaluated on their existing policies and policy outcomes. Case studies will illustrate which state policies are effective and why.

UPON COMPLETION OF THIS COURSE, PARTICIPANTS WILL BE ABLE TO:
- Explain the key elements of a public health approach to addiction prevention and treatment.
- Recognize state policies, programs and initiatives that are consistent with a public health approach and are informed by data and evidence.
- Evaluate whether data-informed and treatment-focused programs and initiatives being employed by other states would benefit residents of their state.
- Identify state policies that could be implemented immediately to prevent overdoses and addiction-related fatalities.
- Describe successes and shortfalls in existing state policies and policy outcomes related to combating the opioid epidemic.