National Opioid Overdose Epidemic
The United States is in the midst of an opioid overdose epidemic. Opioids (including prescription opioids, heroin, and fentanyl) are highly addictive and in 2015 opioids killed more than 33,000 people – more than any year on record. Nearly half of all opioid overdose deaths involve a prescription opioid.
For information about the national epidemic, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at:
https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/index.html
The Consumer Federal Trade Commission has created a resource for those looking for the right help for someone seeking treatment for opioid dependence or withdrawal: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0223-getting-right-help-opioid-dependence-or-withdrawal
Rehab Spot is an information hub that focuses on educating individuals on the treatment process: from selection, to what they can expect during treatment, to entering back into a drug-free life. Their goal is to lessen the stigma of addiction and empower those who are struggling find the treatment they deserve.
www.RehabSpot.com/Opioid-
www.AddictionCenter.com/
https://www.addictionguide.com/
Also there are informational resources at Consumer Protect: https://www.consumerprotect.com/opioid-epidemic/
Overdose A medically reviewed article discussing what overdose is, the risks and causes, and also signs and symptoms of overdose
Top 10 US States with Drug Overdose Deaths An article discussing the top 10 states with drug overdose death.
Abuse and Overdose of Heroin Prevalence and Finding Treatment Options A medically reviewed article discussing the prevalence of heroin abuse and overdose and options to get treatment before it’s too late
The Age of Overdose Article discussing the prevalence of overdose, contains infographics and statistics throughout the united states
Naloxone (Narcan, Evzio) : Administration, Side Effects, and Dosage: Medically reviewed article discussing what naloxone is, how to use it and the side effects of its use
OAR and Veterans Resources Page: Resources for veterans and others struggling with Alcohol Use Disorder, Narcotics and Opioid Abuse, and Smoking Cessation.
Adolescent Drug Addiction Resources: INFORMATION ON ADOLESCENT DRUG TREATMENT
Addiction Recovery Apps and Tech Resources from Verizon
Close-up on Connecticut
The misuse of prescription medications and opioid-based drugs has increased significantly over the years and is a public health concern in Connecticut as well. This misuse includes taking medications in higher doses than prescribed, for a purpose other than that for which it was prescribed, or taking a medication that was prescribed for another person or obtained off the streets. Opioid overdose is often characterized by a decrease in breathing rate which if not quickly addressed leads to death.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT OPIOID OVERDOSE:
Common Risk Factors for Opioid Overdose:
- Mixing opioids with other drugs, particularly alcohol or sedatives
- Resumption of use after a period of abstinence from opioid use, such as recent release from a rehabilitation center or from incarceration
- Elderly persons may forget that they already took their medication and accidentally re-take the same medication
- Younger age groups, specifically teens or early 20s exposed to peer pressure or a social environment where there is drug use
Signs of an opioid overdose:
- Face is extremely pale and/or clammy to the touch
- Body is limp
- Fingernails or lips have a blue or purple cast
- Vomiting or making gurgling noises
- Cannot be awakened from sleep or is unable to speak
- Breathing is very slow or stopped
- Heartbeat is very slow or stopped
What should I do if I see an overdose?
- Call 911 immediately!
- Support the person’s breathing
- Administer naloxone (Narcan) if you have it
- Lay the person on their side once they have resumed breathing
- Stay with the overdosed person until the ambulance arrives
Resources
Opioid Family Stories
http://www.ct.gov/dmhas/lib/dmhas/video/bridget&craig.wmv
http://www.ct.gov/dmhas/lib/dmhas/video/Rich.wmv
http://www.ct.gov/dmhas/lib/dmhas/video/kathyl.wmv
https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/
Using Naloxone to Reverse an Opioid Overdose:
http://www.ctvideo.ct.gov/dmhas/NaloxoneTraining.wmv
Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution Program
According to the Connecticut Department of Public Health:
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FOR MORE INFORMATION
Visit the Connecticut Department of Public Health at the following link:
http://www.ct.gov/dph/cwp/view.asp?a=3137&q=567398
Additional Resources:
Heroin Overdose and Addiction: A Public Health Issue
Prescription Drug Overdose and the Role of Health Care Providers
Prescription Drug Overdose in Teens and Young Adults
General Prescription Drug Overdose Prevention Strategies
Current Laws related to Opioids Overdose Prevention
Painkiller Addiction Assessment Tool
Drugwatch-Safe Prescription Information
A new tool that gives an estimated time of how long it might take for someone using a particular drug to sober up Drug Effects Calculator
Desert Hope Treatment Center hosts free virtual 12-Step support meetings each week at: https://deserthopetreatment.com/about-us/events-and-media/
Drug and Alcohol Hotline provides free, confidential emotional support, information on substance abuse and local resources, and assistance finding an addiction treatment program:
https://deserthopetreatment.com/addiction-treatment/addiction-hotlines/
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For more information, view the video “The Opioid Crisis Hits Home: Stories from Connecticut,” from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut at: |
The Governor’s Connecticut Opioid Response Initiative
| In October 2016, Governor Dannel Malloy announced the ConnecticutOpioid REsponse (CORE) Initiative, a statewide strategy to address the opioid crisis in Connecticut. The CORE plan was developed with the Yale School of Medicine, health insurance carriers, and other expert partners with the goal of cutting the death rate due to opioid overdoses. |  |
The CORE plan seeks to accomplish this by means of the following strategies:
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Booklist available at Oxford Library: