Nearly one person dies every day from opioid misuse. It is a public health crisis in Utah, and we are fourth in the nation for prescription opioid overdose deaths. The Opioid Community Collaborative is a group of public health organizations, behavioral health treatment providers, and law enforcement partners created to address this problem. They are charged with decreasing the burden of pharmaceutical drug misuse, abuse, and overdose through provider education, public awareness, and access to treatment.
Physicians play a central role in turning around this epidemic. Health professionals are being educated about the risks of overprescribing, being given “permission to prescribe less,” and learning about alternatives to opioids.
The collaborative is sharing the message of “Opt out, speak out, throw out” to help patients understand the potential dangers of opioids and seek alternatives. Prescription drop boxes have been installed at 21 community pharmacies and more than 8,300 pounds of prescription medications have been collected.
SelectHealth recognizes the prevention effort led by The Opioid Community Collaborative as another example of how Utah Gives Back.