Last week Snohomish County
announced a new effort to reduce illegal opioid use by partially activating the
county’s Emergency Coordination Center (http://ssnoccrimewatch.blogspot.com/2017/11/opioid-crisis-snohomish-county-tries.html).
The partial activation will allow better coordination between agencies such as
the Sheriff’s Office, county Department of Health, public Works and Human Services.
The state of Washington is also
responding to the opioid crisis. In June of this year, the Washington State
Attorney General’s Office, Washington State Patrol and the Washington
Association of Prosecuting Attorneys convened a two-day meeting of law enforcement,
prosecutorial, public health, policy and medical professionals to develop
strategies to reduce the supply of illegal opioids in Washington. The result of
the meeting is a 29-page report issued last week with seven recommended goals
to reduce illegal opioid use.
Despite efforts in Washington
State to reduce opioid abuse, overdose deaths continue to rise. The report
tries to include all community resources that may be able to contribute to reducing
the crisis.
The first goal is to “Address significant gaps in public
awareness about the dangers of opioids, as well as less risky alternatives
available.” The report recommends expanded statewide, coordinated education and
outreach efforts.
One in four teens believe that there is little or no risk in
using prescription pain relievers without a prescription. Also, about 4,500 12th
graders use prescription opioids in any given month and about 3.600 have tried
heroin at least once.
The Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll has found
that four in ten adults were not aware that
1.
Prescription opioid abuse makes a person more likely to
use heroin.
2.
Prescription opioids are about equally addictive as
heroin
In an attempt to improve the public’s understanding of the
dangers of opioids, the Washington State department of Social and Health
Services (DSHS) will begin an education campaign to educate the public about
the dangers of prescription drug misuse and increase awareness of appropriate opioid
use, storage and disposal and on how to respond to an overdose. While DSHS has
limited financial resources to conduct the campaign it will use major media, a
campaign website, Facebook and a toolkit for partner organizations.
Next post, part 2, Preventing addiction by curtailing
overprescribing.
For the complete report, go to,
Washington State Attorney General’s Office:
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