Write in to Rhode Island Senate Health and Human Services Committee members to support S2784

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Please email the members of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and urge them to vote S2784 requiring a conversation between prescribers and patients upon third prescription or second refill of an opioid-based painkiller out of Committee. You can click on their addresses below. A Sample email is provided as well
Senator Joshua Miller , Chair: sen-miller @rilegislature.gov

Senator Gayle l. Goldin, Vice-Chair: [email protected]

Senator Jeanine Calkin: [email protected]

Senator Elizabeth Crowley: [email protected]

Senator Thomas J. Paolino [email protected]

Senator Adam J Satchell: [email protected]

Senator James Sheehan: [email protected]

Senator Sosnowski: [email protected]

Sample Email

I urge you to vote S2784, requiring a conversation between prescriber and patient on 3rd prescription or second refill, out of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Research shows that as people move into second and third prescriptions, the probabilities of becoming addicted to the medication substantially increases.

This common sense prevention measure builds on the state law adopted last year requiring a conversation between prescriber and patient before an opioid is first prescribed to discuss the potential risks of addiction as well as alternative treatment where the prescriber deems appropriate. It is essential to require it because in too many cases these discussions were not occurring and people received this highly addictive medication with no real warning or guidance.

This bill is championed by Prevent Opiate Abuse RI, a national organization working to educate patients and parents about the risks of opioid-based painkillers and the available non-opioid alternatives. Please support a floor vote for this life-saving legislation that can help curb Rhode Island’s opioid addiction epidemic.

Sincerely,

Elaine Pozycki Feature in Real Woman Magazine

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Women Are At Risk In The Opioid Crisis

The opioid epidemic is one of the worst public health crises in American history. How did it take hold, and what can we do to avoid dangerous and deadly consequences for ourselves and our loved ones? Real Woman investigates.

Read complete article here.

U.S. Drug Overdoses Soar Past 60,000

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From Get Smart About Drugs:

In 2016, there were more than 63,000 deadly drug overdoses in the nation, according to the latest numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.image of woman passed out from a pill overdose

The staggering overdose rate is three times the rate of overdose deaths in 1999.

Read full article here.Read full article here.

Responsible Prescribing is the Key to Curbing Opioid Epidemic

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From Thrive Global.

Opioid overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in the United States
by Andrew Kolodny, MD

Twenty years ago, opioid overdose deaths in the United States were rare. Today, they are the leading cause of accidental death, surpassing motor vehicle crashes. In 2016, more than 64,000 Americans died from a drug overdose, a figure that exceeds in one year the total number of Americans killed during the entire Vietnam war.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been clear for several years about the cause of our nation’s opioid addiction epidemic. It has shown that a sharp increase in opioid overdose deaths and addiction paralleled an increase in opioid prescribing. In other words, the CDC is saying the opioid crisis was caused by overprescribing of opioids. The medical community did not start prescribing opioids more aggressively out of malicious intent. For most of us, it was a desire to treat pain more compassionately that led to overprescribing. To bring this public health crisis under control, doctors must prescribe more cautiously.

Read complete article here.

Final Report of National Opioid Commission Recommends National Implementation of Prescriber/Patient Conversations Before an Opioid is Prescribed

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Parents have right to know risks of addictive pain killers

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Guest Editorial by Elaine Pozycki. From the Herald News, Fall River:

Like so many moms across this country, my son became addicted to opioid pain relievers after they were prescribed to him to treat a sports injury. Had I just been told about the addictive qualities of the medicine Steven was prescribed, I would have known to look for alternatives. I would have known to look for signs of dependency earlier.

Read the complete article here.

New Rhode Island Laws Aimed at Combating Opioid Epidemic

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Gov. Gina Raimondo has signed three bills into law aimed at combating Rhode Island’s opioid epidemic.

The legislation allows law enforcement access to an electronic database of prescription painkillers without a warrant; requires health care professionals to discuss the risks of addiction with patients when writing opioid prescriptions; and expands the type of pharmaceuticals that can be prescribed using electronic prescriptions, while ensuring patient privacy.

Read complete article here.

Senate passes Archambault legislation that requires prescribers to discuss opioid risks

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STATE HOUSE — The Senate has passed legislation introduced by Sen. Stephen R. Archambault (D-Dist. 22, Smithfield, North Providence, Johnston) that would require health care professionals to discuss the dangers of opioid addiction before prescribing the medication.

“We’re battling a lethal epidemic that is killing more people a year than motor vehicle crashes,” said Senator Archambault. “More than 52,000 Americans died from a drug overdose in 2015 — and 63 percent of those deaths involved an opioid, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”

The legislation (2017-S 0493A) would require that a health care professional authorized to issue prescriptions, prior to issuing an initial prescription for an opioid drug, discuss with the patient who is 18 years of age or older or the patient’s parent or guardian if the patient is under 18, specifically the risks of developing a dependence or addiction on the prescription opioid drug and potential of overdose or death, the adverse risks of concurrent use of alcohol or other psychoactive medications.

Read more…

Mayor Elorza, State and Federal Partners Announce Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

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Thursday, April 27, 2017
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Contact:
Victor Morente, Press Secretary
401-441-4995
[email protected]
Mayor Elorza, State and Federal Partners Announce Prescription Drug Take-Back Day
Providence plans collection at four locations Saturday, April 29 to reduce misuse and abuse of prescription drugs
 
PROVIDENCE, RI – Mayor Jorge Elorza today announced that the City will hold its Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, an effort that aims to reduce prescription drug misuse by collecting unused and expired drugs from residents, this Saturday, April 29, 2017 from 10:00am to 2:00pm.
“Ridding your home of expired and unused prescription drugs this National Prescription Take Back Day is an easy and convenient way to help keep your family safe,” said Mayor Elorza. “I’m proud that Providence is once again participating in a national effort that helps prevent and eliminate serious risks. I invite families to take a look at their cabinets and drawers and visit a collection site.”
Take-backs will be held at four locations: Walgreens at 533 Elmwood Avenue, 1 Pocasset Avenue, and 295 Academy Avenue; the Providence Public Safety Complex at 325 Washington Street. The Elmwood Avenue Walgreens, in partnership with Neighborhood Health Plan and the Mayor’s Substance Abuse Prevention Council, will also hold a health fair featuring a naloxone awareness table, blood pressure screenings, and special giveaways.
The Mayor was joined in announcing the Take-Back Day and encouraging resident participation by Sam Masiello, Group Supervisor for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency; Rebecca Boss, Acting Director of the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals; Steven M. Paré, Providence Public Safety Commissioner; Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr., Chief of the Providence Police Department; and Ellen Cynar, Director of the City’s Healthy Communities Office.
Providence residents who cannot make it to Saturday’s take-back can drop off unused and expired medications any time at a bin in the Providence Public Safety Complex, as well as a permanent bin at the Walgreens Pharmacy on Elmwood Avenue during regular store hours.
Take backs will be happening throughout the state and region on Saturday, with locations listed on the Drug Enforcement Agency’s home page: www.DEA.gov.
Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

Legislation championed by POA Passes and Becomes Law.

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We are pleased that legislation we helped craft that puts in place pill and dosage limits for initial prescriptions to opiate-based painkillers, strengthens the state’s Prescription Monitoring Program and requires the Health Director to put in place a required training program as a condition of being licensed to prescribed opiates passed the General Assembly and was signed into law by the Governor. Click on S2823 Sub A below to read the whole law:

Senate Bill No. 2823 SUB A as amended
BY Archambault, Lombardi, Lynch Prata, McCaffrey, Metts
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS — UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT–REGULATION OF MANUFACTURING, DISTRIBUTING, PRESCRIBING, ADMINISTERING, AND DISPENSING CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES (Requires pharmacies to transmit prescription information to the prescription monitoring data base within twenty-four hours of dispensing an opioid. Provides limits on amounts of opoids to be prescribed.)