Life-Saving Naloxone from Pharmacies: CDC Vital Signs Report

Video: August 2019 Life-Saving Naloxone from Pharmacies

About 48,000 US drug overdose deaths involved opioids in 2017. Naloxone is a life-saving medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Pharmacists and other healthcare providers play a critical role in ensuring patients receive naloxone. Many states have laws that allow pharmacists to dispense naloxone without a prescription (called standing orders), which have contributed to lowering deaths. Dispensing has increased in recent years, but more work needs to be done, particularly in rural counties.

Key Points:

• The number of prescriptions for naloxone doubled from 2017 to 2018. 

• Only 1 naloxone prescription is dispensed for every 70 high-dose opioid prescriptions. 

• Rural counties are nearly 3 times more likely to be ranked low dispensing than metropolitan counties.

Vital Signs is a monthly report that appears as part of the CDC journal, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

HHS Awards Nearly $400 Million to Combat the Opioid Crisis

Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) awarded nearly $400 million to combat the nation’s opioid crisis. The investments will enable HRSA-funded community health centers, rural organizations, and academic institutions to establish and expand access to integrated substance use disorder and mental health services. The awards support HHS's Five-Point Opioid Strategy, introduced under President Trump in 2017. The number of patients receiving medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid addiction at HRSA-funded health centers increased 142 percent from 2016 to 2018 and, since President Trump took office, the number of patients receiving buprenorphine, a common form of MAT, has increased 28 percent.
 
“Health centers and behavioral health providers are on the front lines of the fight against the opioid crisis and substance abuse, especially in rural communities,” said HHS Secretary Alex Azar. “With our evidence-based strategy, HHS is working to support local communities in fighting back against substance abuse, and our united efforts are yielding results. Together, we can end our country’s opioid crisis and lay a foundation for a healthier country where every American can access the mental healthcare they need.”
 
HRSA is awarding more than $200 million to 1,208 health centers across the nation to increase access to high quality, integrated behavioral health services, including the prevention or treatment of mental health conditions and/or substance use disorders, including opioid use disorder through the Integrated Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) program.
 
In addition to HRSA’s investments in community health centers, HRSA’s Federal Office of Rural Health Policy is awarding more than $111 million to 96 rural organizations across 37 states as part of its Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) initiative.  These funds, which also include an evaluation of the initiative, will strengthen rural communities’ capacity to provide needed SUD prevention, treatment, and recovery services and build the evidence base for interventions that are effective in rural settings.
 
HRSA is also awarding nearly $70 million to Opioid Workforce Expansion Programs (OWEP) for Professionals and Paraprofessionals to fund 64 grantees and over $17 million to Graduate Psychology Education (GPE) Program to fund 49 grantees.
 
Please find a link to the full press release here.
 
Secretary Azar’s remarks can be found here.

Back to School Brush- Up: FREE Dental Screening and Cleaning

National Immunization Awareness Month

August is National Immunization Awareness Month. This month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is raising awareness about the importance of immunizations in preventing disease and saving lives.

Vaccines are often associated with children. However, CDC is encouraging communities across the nation to use this month to help raise awareness about the important role immunization plays in preventing serious, sometimes deadly, diseases across the lifespan. Vaccines can save the lives of seniors, mothers, adolescents, those who travel internationally and individuals who work as health care providers and are at a high-risk for contracting diseases.

It is important to make sure children are vaccinated before the back-to-school rush. Immunizations ensure your child’s long-term health while also protecting the health of classmates, friends, family and others in the community. You can start by following CDC’s recommended immunization schedule.

For more information on resources, programs and partnerships that aim to increase vaccination rates among minority populations, visit the CDC website or vaccines.gov.

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Summer Readers Receive Free Admission During Library Days at the Natural History Museum of Utah

August 2, 2019

Contact: Jeff Buydos—801.944.7522
jbuydos@slcolibrary.org

Summer Readers Receive Free Admission During Library Days at the 

Natural History Museum of Utah

SALT LAKE COUNTY, Utah­­—Participants who completed the County Library’s Summer Reading Program will receive free admission during Library Days at the Natural History Museum of Utah at the Rio Tinto Center at the University of Utah.

Entrance during Library Days will include the many interactive exhibits the museum has to offer, as well as a scavenger hunt, crafts, Music and Movement and a visit with Owlexander, the County Library’s mascot. A special Adult Night includes backroom tours that will provide attendees with exclusive access to minerals and fossils cared for by the museum. The Grey Hounds will perform as part of Blues and BBQ during Adult Night. Food will be available for purchase. Parking may be limited.

“We’re extremely excited to once again partner with the Natural History Museum of Utah to reward summer readers of all ages,” said County Library Outreach Manager, Stephanie Anderson. “We’re both thrilled so many people in Salt Lake County read, created, learned, played and connected during this year’s Summer Reading Program.”

Finishers can pick up their free ticket to Library Days by taking their completed Reading Record to any open County Library branch. All Summer Reading Challenge participants will receive $2 off admission through September 30, 2019 by simply showing their library cards.

For a calendar of events at the County Library, please visit thecountylibrary.org/calendar. Please visit nhmu.utah.edu/events for a calendar of events at the Natural History Museum of Utah.

WHAT: Library Days at the Natural History Museum of Utah
WHEN: Saturday, August 10, 10 am–5 pm
Sunday, August 11, 10 am–5 pm
Wednesday, August 14, 5–9 pm (Adult Night)
WHERE: Natural History Museum of Utah
301 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City

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2019 Advance Care Planning Summit

www.healthinsight.org/acp-summit

UTA Change Day- August 11

Sunday, August 11 is UTA Change Day. Three times a year, UTA tweaks the schedules, adding and subtracting service, bumping the times and seasonally adjusting routes.


To check if your route has been affected, go to https://www.rideuta.com/Rider-Info/August-2019-Change-Day.