STRATEGIC PREVENTION FRAMEWORK FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS – SPF-RX GRANT (SAMHSA)

 

Want to help SPTHB develop useful resources?

Simply click the button below and take the survey to provide your attitudes and perceptions of prescription drugs. Providing this information will help us continue to create useful resources and educational materials focused on prescription drug safety.

Take Survey

The SPF Rx grant program, awarded in September of 2016, is an opportunity to target the priority issue of prescription drug misuse. The Southern Plains Tribal Health Board Oklahoma Tribal Epidemiology Center and four of its Tribal Partners have prioritized and successfully implemented strategies to reduce the non-medical use of prescription drugs in Indian Country.

Why is it important to know and understand what opioids are?

Six out of ten unintentional poisonings in Oklahoma involve at least one prescription drug and there are more than 700 unintentional poisonings each year. Prescription opioids are the most common prescription medication associated with overdose deaths and are involved in more overdose deaths than all illicit drugs combined. Many Oklahomans are unaware that misuse and abuse of prescription drugs can be just as dangerous and addicting as using illegal drugs.

In Oklahoma, American Indians have higher rates of unintentional poisoning deaths compared to Caucasian and African Americans within five out of six age categories.

American Indians also have higher rates of unintentional prescription opioid overdose deaths compared to Caucasian and African Americans within individuals aged 15-34, and 55-64

In 2017 American Indian’s and Alaska Native’s (AI/AN) had the second highest overdose rate from all opioids and heroin nationally compared to all race/ethnicities

 

What are opioids and what are they for?

In the medical setting, opioids are a classification of drugs that are used to treat and reduce moderate to severe pain, however, they can have serious side effects and risks. Opioids can be both legal and illegal/illicit drugs (CDC).

Common legal opioid drugs that are prescribed to treat and reduce pain include: oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet), hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab, Norco), morphine, codeine, hydromorphone, methadone, buprenorphine, and fentanyl. Illegal opioid drugs include heroin, opium, and illegally manufactured fentanyl (OBN, CDC, IHS).

Pharmaceutical fentanyl is a synthetic opioid pain reliever that is many times stronger than heroin, 50-100 times stronger than morphine, and is used to treat severe chronic pain (usually in cancer patients). Illegally manufactured fentanyl is on the rise and is being added to heroin and other illegal drugs.

Tips for individuals with opioid or other prescriptions:

• • Take medications as the doctor prescribes them
  • Never share, give away, or sell your medications
  • Dispose of medications safely through a local disposal program (drop boxes). Visit obn.ok.gov Click here to find a disposal site near you.
  • Equip yourself with an opioid overdose reversal medication such as Naloxone. Click here to find out where to obtain free Naloxone and other important information.
  • Safely store medications using a lock box, pouch or other device that locks.

 

What should I know before getting a prescription?

• Talk to your doctor about “nonpharmacologic therapy” and “nonopioid pharmacologic therapy”
• Opioids are not first-line or routine therapy for chronic pain
• Establish goals with your physician – realistic goals for pain and function and consider the discontinuing of opioid therapy if the benefits and goals do not outweigh the risks
• Always ask your physician about the risks and realistic benefits of opioid therapy
• Know the Difference between Acute Pain and Chronic Pain
  • Acute – sudden, known cause, injury or surgery
  • Chronic – pain lasting 3 months or more and can be caused by a disease or condition

 

I get my medication from a doctor, how is it not safe?

• 1 in 4 patients receiving long-term opioid therapy in a primary care setting struggles with opioid addiction.
• In 2016 more than 11.5 million Americans reported misusing opioids
• Side Effects
  • Tolerance – needing a higher dosage or more medication for same pain relief
  • Physical Dependence – symptoms of withdrawal when medication stops
  • Increased Sensitivity to Pain

 

What does addiction look like?

• Symptoms/Side Effects of Opioid Misuse
  • Tolerance – needing a higher dosage or more medication for same pain relief
  • Physical Dependence – symptoms of withdrawal when medication stops
  • Increased Sensitivity to Pain
  • Constipation, Nausea, Vomiting, and Dry Mouth
  • Sleepiness and Dizziness
  • Confusion
  • Depression
  • Low levels of testosterone
  • Itching and Sweating

 

What are the dangers to my mind and body if I mix prescription medications together or in combination with alcohol and other drugs?

• • Patients should talk to with their health care provider about whether they can safely use their prescription drugs with other substances including prescription and over-the-counter medications, as well as Alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs.
  • Drugs that slow down breath rate such as opioids, alcohol, antihistamines, CNS depressants, or general anesthetics should not be taken together
    • Risk of life-threatening respiratory depression
  • Increase risk of opioid misuse
  • Increase risk of overdose death

 

Sources:

• https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/misuse-prescription-drugs/it-safe-to-use-prescription-drugs-in-combination-other-medications
• https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/pdf/Original-PatientPoster-Digital.pdf
• https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/opioids/prescribed.html
• https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/pdf/Guidelines_Factsheet-a.pdf
• https://www.ok.gov/health/Protective_Health/Injury_Prevention_Service/Drug_Overdose/index.html
• https://www.ok.gov/health2/documents/UP_Data_Charts_Tables.pdf
• https://www.ok.gov/health2/documents/UP_Data_Charts_Tables.pdf
• https://www.ihs.gov/opioids/data/
• https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/opioids/index.html