Name
The National Opioid Overdose Epidemic: It’s Not Just Opioids
Date & Time
Tuesday, April 3, 2018, 12:30 PM - 1:45 PM
Speakers
Bruce A. Goldberger, PhD, Professor and Chief, Division of Forensic Medicine, Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine
Robert DuPont, MD, President, Institute for Behavior and Health, Inc., and Member, National Rx Drug Abuse & Heroin Summit Advisory Board
Robert DuPont, MD, President, Institute for Behavior and Health, Inc., and Member, National Rx Drug Abuse & Heroin Summit Advisory Board
Description
Moderator: Christopher M. Jones, PharmD, MPH, Director, National Mental Health and Substance Use Policy Laboratory, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and Member, National Rx Drug Abuse & Heroin Summit Advisory Board
CE Certified By: AMA,AAFP,ACPE,ADA,ANCC,APA,CHES/MCHES,GA Bar,GA POST,NAADAC,NASW,NBCC
A common misconception about the opioid overdose epidemic is that it is limited to opioids. Glaringly overlooked is the fact that there are few people addicted to opioids that do not also, and usually simultaneously, use many other drugs. The national data on opioid overdose deaths collected by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention is limited because it is based on death reports from medical examiners, which substantially underreport the presence of additional drugs. In contrast, the Florida Drug-Related Outcomes Surveillance and Tracking System (FROST) collects the statewide systematic, extensive toxicological testing done on all drug overdose cases.
This presentation will present FROST data to elucidate the role of other drugs — alcohol, Rx drugs and illicit drugs — in the opioid overdose epidemic. About 95% of deaths involve other drugs — averaging two to four additional non-opioid drugs, but reaching as many as 11 other drugs. Patterns of drug use among overdose death victims will be presented along with recommendations for changes in data collection and testing. Recommendations will be made for policy changes to improve prevention and treatment as part of a national response to reduce the overdose epidemic. These changes are necessary to reflect the ubiquity of polydrug use among opioid addicted people. A clear picture of the drug use of opioid dependent people is needed not only to treat this epidemic but also to prevent it.
UPON COMPLETION OF THIS COURSE, PARTICIPANTS WILL BE ABLE TO:
- Describe the ubiquity of alcohol, Rx drugs and illegal drugs in the opioid epidemic.
- Identify procedures to improve data collection for overdose deaths.
- Define new goals for prevention and treatment of opioid use disorders based on polysubstance use in overdoses.
CE Certified By: AMA,AAFP,ACPE,ADA,ANCC,APA,CHES/MCHES,GA Bar,GA POST,NAADAC,NASW,NBCC
A common misconception about the opioid overdose epidemic is that it is limited to opioids. Glaringly overlooked is the fact that there are few people addicted to opioids that do not also, and usually simultaneously, use many other drugs. The national data on opioid overdose deaths collected by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention is limited because it is based on death reports from medical examiners, which substantially underreport the presence of additional drugs. In contrast, the Florida Drug-Related Outcomes Surveillance and Tracking System (FROST) collects the statewide systematic, extensive toxicological testing done on all drug overdose cases.
This presentation will present FROST data to elucidate the role of other drugs — alcohol, Rx drugs and illicit drugs — in the opioid overdose epidemic. About 95% of deaths involve other drugs — averaging two to four additional non-opioid drugs, but reaching as many as 11 other drugs. Patterns of drug use among overdose death victims will be presented along with recommendations for changes in data collection and testing. Recommendations will be made for policy changes to improve prevention and treatment as part of a national response to reduce the overdose epidemic. These changes are necessary to reflect the ubiquity of polydrug use among opioid addicted people. A clear picture of the drug use of opioid dependent people is needed not only to treat this epidemic but also to prevent it.
UPON COMPLETION OF THIS COURSE, PARTICIPANTS WILL BE ABLE TO:
- Describe the ubiquity of alcohol, Rx drugs and illegal drugs in the opioid epidemic.
- Identify procedures to improve data collection for overdose deaths.
- Define new goals for prevention and treatment of opioid use disorders based on polysubstance use in overdoses.