The Rhode Island community responds to opioid overdose deaths

R I Med J (2013). 2014 Oct 1;97(10):34-7.

Abstract

The challenge of addressing the epidemic of opioid overdose in Rhode Island, and nationwide, is only possible through collaborative efforts among a wide breadth of stakeholders. This article describes the range of efforts by numerous partners that have come together to facilitate community, and treatment-related approaches to address opioid-involved overdose and substance use disorder. Strategies to address this crisis have largely focused on increasing access both to the opioid overdose antidote naloxone and to high quality and timely treatment and recovery services. [Full text available at http://rimed.org/rimedicaljournal-2014-10.asp, free with no login].

Keywords: Opiate addiction; naloxone; opioid; overdose.

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics, Opioid / adverse effects*
  • Community Networks / organization & administration
  • Community Pharmacy Services
  • Cooperative Behavior
  • Drug Overdose / mortality*
  • Drug Overdose / prevention & control*
  • Emergency Medical Services / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Naloxone / therapeutic use*
  • Narcotic Antagonists / therapeutic use*
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / mortality
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / prevention & control*
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians'
  • Prescription Drug Misuse / mortality
  • Prescription Drug Misuse / prevention & control*
  • Preventive Health Services / organization & administration*
  • Rhode Island / epidemiology

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Narcotic Antagonists
  • Naloxone