NEPA Vital Signs - Winter Spring 2019 - 25

WINTER/SPRING 2019

Opioid prescribing guidelines are another
helpful tool for providers to safely prescribe.
The Wolf administration has released prescribing guidelines for 11 different medical
specialties. The guidelines support providers
in delivering safe and effective chronic pain
treatment to patients, while minimizing the
risk of developing an OUD.
In addition to this, Pennsylvania physicians are required to complete two
hours of education in pain management,
identification of addiction or safe opioid
prescribing to renew their medical license
in 2018. Further, the PDMP, the Department
of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP),
and the University of Pittsburgh's Program
for Evaluation and Research Unit (Pitt
PERU) developed a continuing education
curriculum for prescribers on navigating the
PDMP system and addressing substance use
disorders (SUDs) with patients.
The Wolf Administration has worked
with all of Pennsylvania's medical and
osteopathic medical schools to develop and
implement an opioid prescribing curriculum
that all medical students in Pennsylvania
are required to complete. The nine core
competencies of the curriculum are:
Understanding core aspects of addiction;
Patient screening for substance use disorder; Proper referral for specialty evaluation
and treatment of substance use disorder;
Proper patient assessment when treating
pain; Proper use of multimodal treatment
options when treating acute pain; Proper use
of opioids for the treatment of acute pain
(after consideration of alternatives); The
role of opioids in the treatment of chronic
non-cancer pain; Patient risk assessment
related to the use of opioids to treat chronic
non-cancer pain, including the assessment
for substance use disorder or increased risk
for aberrant drug related behavior; and The
process for patient education, initiation of
treatment, careful patient monitoring and
discontinuation of therapy when using
opioids to treat chronic non-cancer pain.
This curriculum assures that physicians
entering the medical field are equipped with
the knowledge to safely prescribe.

FREE NARCAN AVAILABLE
Through a state grant, Narcan is available at no cost to all physicians
practicing in Lackawanna County. Considering the large number of
our patients who use opioids on a regular basis, the possibility of an
overdose happening in a physician's office is very real. Doctors can
be prepared to help in this crisis by having Narcan readily available.

Naloxone
NALOXONE IS A MEDICATION THAT CAN REVERSE AN OVERDOSE THAT IS
CAUSED BY AN OPIOID DRUG (I.E. PRESCRIPTION PAIN MEDICATION OR
HEROIN). When administered during an overdose, naloxone blocks the effects of
opioids on the brain and restores breathing within two to eight minutes. Naloxone has
been used safely by medical professionals for more than 40 years and has only one
function: to reverse the effects of opioids on the brain and respiratory system in order
to prevent death.

WHAT IS ACT 139?
This legislation allows first responders
including law enforcement, fire fighters,
EMS, physicians or other organizations the
ability to administer naloxone, a life-saving
opioid reversal medication, to individuals
experiencing an opioid overdoes. The law
also allows individuals such as friends or
family members that may be in a position to
assist a person at risk of experiencing an opioid related overdose to obtain a prescription
for naloxone. Additionally, Act 139 provides
immunity from prosecution for those
responding to and reporting overdoses.

www.getnaloxonenow.org. These easy to
understand, brief trainings explain how to
recognize the signs and symptoms of an
opioid overdose, what to do in the event
of an overdose, and instruct on how to give
naloxone. While it is not necessary to obtain
a training certificate in order to purchase
naloxone, learning these important details
will help you respond properly in the event
of an overdose and also meet the immunity
requirements of PA Act 139.

KEY INFORMATION!

Family members and friends can access 1. If you believe, someone is experiencing
an opioid overdose, call 911!
this medication by obtaining a prescription
from their family doctor or by using the 2. Remain with the person until first
standing order (a prescription written for
responders arrive. Act 139 provides that
the general public, rather than specifically
you will not be arrested or charged with
for an individual) issued by Rachel Levine,
parole violations or drug offenses if you
M.D., Secretary of Health. The standing
call 911, provide all necessary information
order is kept on file at many pharmacies, or
and remain with the person in distress.
may be downloaded at www.health.pa.gov.
3. Become familiar with how to use Naloxone
before someone needs it, through the
In addition to talking to your healthcare
pharmacist, your medical provider, or
provider or the pharmacist about how
online training.
to use naloxone, individuals giving this
medication to someone should take the
online training ahead of time. Department For more information go to
of Health approved training is available at www.health.pa.gov under Opioid Epidemic.

N E PA

25

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http://www.getnaloxonenow.org http://www.health.pa.gov http://www.health.pa.gov

NEPA Vital Signs - Winter Spring 2019

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https://www.nxtbook.com/hoffmann/NEPA_VitalSigns/NEPA_VitalSigns_SummerFall2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/hoffmann/NEPA_VitalSigns/NEPA_VitalSigns_WinterSpring2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/hoffmann/NEPA_VitalSigns/NEPA_VitalSigns_SummerFall2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/hoffmann/NEPA_VitalSigns/NEPA_VitalSigns_WinterSpring2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/hoffmann/NEPA_VitalSigns/NEPA_VitalSigns_SummerFall2017
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