Payers & Providers

Acute Pain Management – Meeting the Challenges

Source: Veterans Administration Pharmacy Benefits Management Academic Detailing

This guide to managing acute pain was created by the Veterans Administration to help their clinicians reduce opioid prescriptions while also treating their patient’s pain. The guide presents a step-wise approach to pain management: step 1 prioritzes non-pharmacological treatments, step 2 consists of non-pharmacological approaches and non-opioid pharmacotherapy second, and step 3 adds short term use of short-acting

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Policymakers & Community Leaders
Payers & Providers
Patients & Caregivers

Trauma-informed Approaches Need to be Part of a Comprehensive Strategy for Addresing the Opioid Epidemic

Source: Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice

A 2017 policy brief from the Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice, this report describes why strategies to address the opioid crisis will only be successful if we understand the connection between trauma and the roots of addiction. The brief also provides examples of effective prevention and treatment programs. Funding Source:  Unknown

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Payers & Providers

Tapering Toolkit Provider Resources

Source: Partnership HealthPlan of California

This 2016 toolkit from Partnership Health Plan of California provides guidance for providers seeking to engage their patients in a step-wise, physician directed tapering of their opioid dose. The toolkit has 4 sections: how to identify candidates for tapering, how to collaboratively set a tapering plan with the patient, how to manage the tapering process and complications, and advice on planning for special situations

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Policymakers & Community Leaders
Payers & Providers
Patients & Caregivers

Changing Federal Terminology Regarding Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders

Source: White House Office of National Drug Control Policy

This January 2017 memorandum from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy alerts federal agency staff to recommended changes in language use related to substance use and substance use disorders. The recommended changes in language use are intended to reduce stigma and support treatment for substance use disorders.

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Policymakers & Community Leaders

Aligning City, County and State Resources to Address the Opioid Epidemic

Source: National League of Cities

This report draws on knowledge gained from the Mayors’ Institute on Opioids which focused on assisting 6 communities in addressing their opioid related issues. This report describes the findings from this project, including emphasizing the need for cross-sector partnerships and integration, a focus on equity and reducing stigma, and innovative ways to use data to focus cross-agency partnerships.

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Policymakers & Community Leaders
Payers & Providers

Comparison of Opioid Prescribing by Dentists in the United States and England

Source: Suda, K. et. al.

Report of a study comparing opioid prescribing rates in 2016 by dentists in the United States and England. The authors found that the proportion of prescriptions written by US dentists was 37 times greater than the proportion written by English dentists. Funding Source:  Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, National Institutes of Health

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Policymakers & Community Leaders

Applying Population Estimation Methods in Rural America

Source: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

This toolkit from the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University provides guidance on using data to understand the nature and the scope of the opioid crisis and how to use data to help design population level responses to the opioid epidemic. Includes information from a population estimation study in rural West Virginia.

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Policymakers & Community Leaders

Multiple Naloxone Adminstrations Among Emergency Medical Service Providers is Increasing

Source: Faul, M. et. al.

An analysis data by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention staff that shows that the incidence of multiple naloxone administrations by first responders increased significantly from 2012 to 2015 and varied by region of the country. Funding Source:  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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Payers & Providers
Patients & Caregivers

Prescription Opioids for Subacute Pain

Source: Washington Department of Health

The Washington Department of Health developed these patient education guides in conjunction with the implementation of new opioid prescribing guidelines in the state. This patient guide discusses prescription opioids for sub acute pain lasting 6 to 12 weeks. Funding Source: Washington Department of Health

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Payers & Providers

Naloxone Prescribing with Opioid Prescriptions

Source: Washington Department of Health

The Washington legislature required all 5 medical licensing boards to develop opioid prescribing guidelines by January 1, 2019. This 4 page document provides information for prescribers on jointly prescribing naloxone with opioid prescriptions and includes a summary of the prescribing guideline requirements on naloxone for nurses, dentists, allopathic physicians, osteopathic physicians, and podiatrists. Funding Source:  Washington State Department of Health

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