MONTHLY NEWS AND UPDATES
July 30, 2019
IN THIS ISSUE    
●   Jack Amason’s Story: A Life Saved by MAT and IEOCC Members
●    Direct Dispensing of Naloxone Saves Lives
●    $15.2M in Harm Reduction Funds in State Budge t
●    Resource: Safe(r) Drug Use Information
●    Resource: Overcoming Objections to MAT 
●    Resource: Free Online Trainings on Effective Harm Reduction
●    New National Pain Management Guidelines
●    Improve Community Safety: Host a Drug Take-Back Bin
●    Webinar: Dispensing Naloxone
●     Take Our 3 Minute Survey
●    3 Things You Can Do to Help
●    IEOCC Workgroups and Meetings
Jack Amason’s Story: A Life Saved by MAT and IEOCC Members
Jack Amason has battled opiate drug use off and on for 35 years. He finally found the support he needed at the Arrowhead Regional Medical Center’s emergency department, when he was introduced to Medication Assisted Therapy (MAT) through Arrowhead’s new ED Bridge Program.
 
“I was headed for an overdose, kind of on purpose. I was sick of living this way,” Amason said. “I went to Arrowhead. … They started detoxing me that day. I didn’t feel one bit of pain. No nausea, no restless leg. I couldn’t believe it. This stuff takes that fear and that excuse out of it.”
 
MAT combines behavioral therapy and medication to treat opioid use disorders. ED Bridge programs are up and running in three Inland Empire hospitals. These grant-funded programs each employ a full time Substance Use Navigator to connect emergency room patients to needed services and to MAT providers in the community, as well as supporting medical staff throughout the hospital to meet this standard of care across hospital services.
 
While getting other medical care at the Arrowhead ED, Amason met with ED Bridge leaders Dr. Carol Lee and Dr. Edward Pillar, and with Substance Use Navigator Wendy Martinez. Wendy coordinated the care and treatment of Jack and connected him with the Aegis Center in Ontario for outpatient MAT where he continues to receive care. This appreciative patient can’t say enough good about these leaders:
 
“Dr. Carol (Lee) said, ‘I promise you that this withdrawal won’t be like anything you have had before.’ And she kept her word. Dr. Pillar is so kind and easy to relate to. Wendy is a complete angel. She’s incredible. She has stayed on it with me and my care.”
 
“I have lost several friends to this disease … Part of the reason (they) ended up with habits is they get on prescriptions from doctors in the first place. They didn’t have means to get on a program, and had no way to know about it. I was blessed when I walked in the door and they said, ‘Hey, there’s a new program here.’ I haven’t used since, not one drop. This stuff not only changes lives but it helps save them.”
Direct Dispensing of Naloxone Saves Lives
A new RAND Corporation study found that allowing pharmacists to dispense naloxone without a prescription can reduce the incidence of fatal opioid-related overdoses. States that adopted such laws saw fatal opioid overdoses fall by an average of 27 percent during the second year following passage. California is one state that adopted such a law through the passing of the bill, AB 1535 , allowing pharmacists to dispense naloxone without a prescription.
$15.2M in Harm Reduction Funds in State Budget
The California state budget has allocated $15.2 million to fund staff positions in harm reduction programs across the state. These Harm Reduction Care Navigators will be able to better connect underserved and ‘hard to reach’ people with services such as syringe access, overdose prevention, drug treatment, and healthcare services. In rural Northern California this funding will ensure that staff can be hired to connect with people in remote areas and in Southern California this funding will allow greater expansion of services to homeless individuals. 
Resource: Safe(r) Drug Use Information 
The Harm Reduction Coalition has developed a downloadable handout about safe(r) drug use. The handout includes strategies to reduce harm, detailed information dependent on route of admission, safer injection practices, and how to avoid and manage skin and soft tissue infections.  
Resource: Overcoming Objections to MAT 
Despite data showing the success of MAT in treating opioid addiction, objections are still common and widespread. The issue brief by the CHCF, “MAT for Opioid Use Disorder: Overcoming Objections”, outlines frequently cited objections and evidence-based responses to each. Understanding the science behind addiction and treatment can help change perspectives from blame to compassion and reduce stigma.
Resource: Free Online Trainings on Effective Harm Reduction
The Harm Reduction Coalition is offering free online training courses, including, “Engaging People who Use Drugs”, and basic education on harm reduction. The courses are available free to IEOCC members through the generosity of the Harm Reduction Coalition and the California Opioid Safety Network. Visit the online training institute for more information and use code COSN66F1B9B7 after you set up a simple log-in to register for the trainings.
New Guidelines from the U.S. Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force
The U.S. Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force released new guidelines for managing acute and chronic pain. Among the recommendations, they promote individual assessment of risks and benefits for patients dependent on opioids for chronic pain, as some patients will be safer maintained on opioids.
Improve Safety in the Community: Host a Drug Take-Back Bin 
The California Drug Take-Back Program is now accepting applications to host medical bins for the safe disposal of unwanted medicine. Pharmacies, hospitals, and law enforcement departments interested in participating in this program and receiving a free medicine collection bin may complete the application here . Visit the program’s website for more information, including a FAQ reference document and a map of bin locations. 
Webinar: Dispensing Naloxone, August 27th
Cal Hospital Compare has a free 5-part webinar series as part of their Opioid Safe Hospital Designation Program. The fourth webinar on August 27th will focus on the nuts and bolts of dispensing Naloxone to high-risk patients and their support systems. The webinars are geared towards hospital staff involved in improving opioid safety. This includes Chief Medical and Nursing Officers, Chief Quality Officers, and Quality and Emergency Department leadership. You are invited to register here . 
Take our 3 minute survey-
Help us match speakers with audiences to address the opioid crisis!
As the Inland Empire Opioid Crisis Coalition continues to coalesce our community to address the Opioid crisis in our region, we are excited to move forward in developing an IEOCC "Speakers' Bureau." We are looking to identify both potential speakers as well as those organizations who would like to request a speaker or presenter for specific dates or events.
 
We would be most appreciative if you could please take  3 MINUTES  to complete the attached survey so that we can ensure that we are positioned to provide expertise upon request and expand our efforts to combat this situation that affects us all.
 
Thank you for your time and input! If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Joshua Crouch at  crouch-j@iehp.org.
3 Things You Can Do 
 
-        Promote the IEOCC to colleagues , by forwarding this newsletter.

-        Promote MAT and harm reduction in your professional networks in addition to IEOCC. Use resources and research listed here.

-        Request an IEOCC expert to present in an upcoming meeting for providers or other audiences, through Joshua Crouch: Crouch-J@iehp.org
IEOCC Workgroups: Join one to collaborate on specific goals to end the crisis

Access to Treatment • Education & Engagement
Safe Prescribing • Prevention & Public Agencies
Email Joshua Crouch, crouch-J@iehp.org , to learn more.

Learn more about the IEOCC and its mission and vision on our website.
ABOUT THE IEOCC
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Vision:  To reduce opioid use and opioid related deaths in the Inland Empire.

Mission:  The Inland Empire Opioid Crisis Coalition (IEOCC) creates effective community collaborations between member organizations and individuals who need help with pain management and addictive disorders. The coalition employs the values and techniques of harm reduction and integrated care.

IEOCC will ensure the following changes occur in their communities:

  • Education and engagement with service providers and community members.

  • Safer prescribing practices for opioid medications.

  • Increased use of medication-assisted addiction treatment (MAT), as part of a comprehensive system of integrated behavioral health care.

  • Increased availability and use of the overdose reversal drug Naloxone.


Thank you for your support in working together to improve the quality of life in the Inland Empire!