Overview
Prescription opioids can be used to treate moderate-to-severe pain, but can also have serious risks and side effects. Improving the way opioids are prescribed, through a clinical-based education approach, can assist health care providers offer safer, more effective treatment while reducing opioid-related abuse and overdose.
Strategies and Activities
According to the CDC, the best way to prevent opioid overdose deaths is to improve opioid prescribing to reduce exposure to opioids, prevent abuse and stop addiction.
- Improve prescribing
- Prevent abuse
- Provide treatment and prevent death
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Opioid Overdose Prevention
The CDC opioid overdose prevention website is a great resource for patients and providers. The site lists different typs of opioids, such as prescription opioids fentanyl and heroin. CDC guidelines on prescribing opioids, publications and online trainins are also available on the site.
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Preventing and Recognizing Prescription Drug Abuse
A resource for clinicians, patients and pharmacists regarding prescription drug misuse and prevention. The site lists descriptions for each role in prescription drug misuse and how to help with prevention.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Efforts to Fight Prescription Drug Misuse and Abuse
SAMHSA provides information, evidence-based practices, and treatment locations to help prevent, treat, and promote recovery from prescription drug misuse and abuse. The site also lists role descriptions for health care practitioners, communities, workplaces, patients, and families and how each can help prevent prescription drug abuse.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Opioid Overdose Prevention Toolkit-updated 2016
SAMHSA provides a free toolkit that offers strategies to health care providers, communities, and local governments for developing practices and policies to help prevent opioid-related overdoses and deaths.
This list is not exhaustive, and inclusion does not imply endorsement of the organization or contents of the website by the WVVIPP.