1. Opioid Crisis What is the Big Deal?
Rachelle Hall R.N.

2. The Big Deal Is:
*116 People die every day from opioid-related overdose
*11.5 million people misuse prescription opioids
*504 billion dollars in economic costs
*Emotionally costly

3. What is an Opioid
*Opioids are a group of drugs that manage pain by depressing the central Nervous System
* There are two different kind of opiates:Natural and Synthetic
Natural opiates come from the milk of the poppy plant and include opium, morphine and codeine.
Synthetic opiates are man made in a laboratory and are most often used to treat chronic or severe pain. Examples include Dilaudid, Demerol, Oxycodone, Vicodin, Fentanyl and Methadone.

4. How Do Opiates Work?
*Special proteins known as opioid receptors are found in certain areas of the human body. Those areas include the brain, spinal cord and gastrointestinal tract. When opiate substances are introduced to the body, they attach to opioid receptors. Once attached the opiate prevent your brain from receiving messages that indicate the presence of pain,
*Side effects of opiate substances include euphoria, drowsiness, and relaxation. Opiates also cause lower resting heart rate, cause chronic constipation, create a widening in blood vessels, depress coughing and slow breathing reflexes severely.
*They Trick your body they don’t Treat!

6. How Did this Happen?
*Approximately 20 years ago, adequate pain care became a central issue in healthcare. Often referred to as the 5th Vital Sign. There was a patient’s right movement that was meant to ensure the pain of every American patient was adequately treated.
*In the late 1990s , pharmaceutical companies reassured the medical community that patients would not become addicted to prescription opioid pain relievers, and healthcare providers began to prescribe them at greater rates.
UNFORTUNATELY, THOUSANDS OF PATIENTS BECAME OPIATE ADDICTS IN THE PROCESS.

7. Who is affected by the opioid crisis?
*Short answer is EVERYBODY.
*All socioeconomic classes are effected. Opioid addiction is often described as the equal opportunity addiction, affecting all races, age groups and sexes.
* Every year over 2 million people misuse prescription opioids for the first time.
*Every day, on average, 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time
*Prior to 2016, nearly 250 million prescriptions were written for opioids…..This is enough for every adult in the U.S. to have a bottle of pills

8. What are “we” doing about it?
The Opioid crisis has gained a national spotlight, this has has led to advertising campaigns and public advertisements and education.
In the medical community pain is looked at differently, the goal still being to provide relief, but now the goal is more realistic not a zero on a pain scale.
More focus on alternative pain relief; ie. Physical Therapy, Acupuncture, Chiropractic, Essential Oils, Supplements, Hypnosis, and of course non addictive products such as Tylenol and Ibuprofen
Limiting access to opioids by; decreasing prescriptions, increased education about use of the medications and safe storage and disposal, increased access to treatment, Opioid substitution drugs such as Suboxone, methadone,and naltrexone.
Rescue meds such as Narcan

9. Resources Local Mental Health Center Local County Public Health
Private doctor
Emergency Rooms
Colorado Consortium
Local Department of Public Safety
Rehab Facilities
Outpatient addiction Treatment Centers

10. Naloxone or Narcan Is an opioid overdose reversal medication
It is now available over the counter at pharmacies
Many healthcare insurance companies cover the cost or at affordable copay
It is easy to use
The 911 Good Samaritan Law encourages individuals who witness an overdose to call for help without fearing prosecution from drug possession or underage drinking