A multi-county organization dedicated to fighting substance abuse in the Tri-Lakes Area is applauding a recent decision by Taney County commissioners.
On Monday, Oct. 2, commissioners voted to join the St. Louis County-based Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP).
Marietta Hagan, project coordinator for the Stone and Taney Counties Substance Abuse Initiative, said the move coincides with the organization’s mission.
“Prescription opioids and heroin were identified as one of our top substances of concern in the recent community assessment,” Hagan said. “So CoxHealth and the Stone and Taney Counties Substance Abuse Initiative fully support the passing of the ordinance and the decision to join the St. Louis County PDMP consortium.”
According to Hagan, a majority of heroin users said their first experience with opioids came from prescribed medication.
“The PDMP has the potential to reduce the number of prescription opioids that are available for illicit purchase in the community,” Hagan said. “Because 80 percent of new heroin users report they started out on prescription opioids, the better monitoring the PDMP will provide may help prevent future heroin use.”
To accomplish this goal, Hagan said the St. Louis County PDMP allows providers, like physicians, nurse practitioners and pharmacists, access to a database to identify patients who are at risk for a substance abuse disorder. Hagan said the hope is for healthcare providers to be able to use the PDMP to get individuals help before an opioid addiction develops or worsens.
“There are algorithms set up that will be able to identify someone who has had a risky amount of morphine-equivalent medication prescribed to them,” Hagan said. “So it not only alerts (healthcare providers), but it allows the physician or pharmacist to see where that person has had other prescriptions filled and by what other doctors and what other types.
“So if they see the patient has been to multiple ERs or that there are other physicians prescribing similar medication they can have that conversation with the patient. Say. ‘I’m concerned about what I see,’ and further address that.”
Currently, Missouri is the only state without a statewide PDMP.
On July 17, Governor Eric Greitens signed an executive order calling for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to create a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program.
While the PDMP from the executive order does not allow healthcare providers access to the database, Hagan said the state and county-level programs should be able to work together in preventing opioid abuse.
“The two separate systems will address similar but very distinct needs and in that way will work together to help solve a larger problem, along with other efforts and tools,” Hagan said.
In addition to the PDMP programs, Hagan said the SAI is also looking to combat substance abuse in other ways. Hagan cited a seminar the organization hosted the previous week that looked at educating health care professionals on avoiding potentially addictive medication.
“Over 50 local providers came and learned to recognize high-risk (drugs),” she said. “So they can avoid providing those high-risk drugs to patients with high risks.”
The organization is also hosting a prescription drug take back event on Oct. 28. According to Hagan, the event will allow individuals to safely dispose of unused medication.
“It gets those unused and expired medications out of the home and away from the children,” Hagan said. The medications can then be disposed properly. More information on the event can be found online at skaggsfoundation.org/substance-abuse-initiative.html, but locations will include the Walgreens in Hollister, The CVS in Branson on Loyd Road and in front of the police station and municipal building in Forsyth.
Hagan also said Stone County commissioners will be looking to make a decision on the St. Louis County PDMP as well, during a meeting on Oct. 17.
Source: Branson Tri Lakes News