This resource tells the story of a mother whose son Louie began using opioids after a football injury and soon developed opioid use disorder and began using heroin. One month after his second stay in rehabilitation, Louie fatally overdosed on heroin. His mother now advocates on his behalf and shares his story with Continue reading
Resource Tag: Prescription Opioids
Prescription Drug Community Action Kit: Survivor Story – Skye
Skye began her opioid use at age 13 after dental surgery and eventually developed a heroin addiction and a long arrest record. With the help of her family, Skye completed treatment, worked as a peer mentor and overdose prevention counselor, and now is therapist and assistant director of a counseling program that Continue reading
Prescription Drug Community Action Kit: Survivor Story – Sally
Sally’s story details her opioid use, which began following dental surgery at 14 and escalated into adulthood until she lost her job and was no longer able to support herself. At age 20, she began 3 years of treatment and relapses and became stabilized and in recovery after joining a methadone treatment program. Continue reading
Prescription Drug Community Action Kit: Survivor Story – Ken
A first person story about opioid user Ken whose workplace injury led to a four year addiction to pain killers. Through Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), Ken is on the road to recovery. Continue reading
Prescription Drug Community Action Kit: Survivor Story – Bill
This resource is a first person story about an individual, Bill, who took prescription opioids for severe lower back pain and unintentionally overdosed when his physician switched his medication from hydrocodone to methadone to address tolerance. Bill didn’t realize methadone accumulates slowly and remains in the Continue reading
Six Building Blocks: A Team-Based Approach to Improving Opioid Management in Primary Care
This website presents the Six Building Blocks program for primary care teams who want to improve their practice’s management of patients on long term opioid therapy for chronic pain. It defines the Six Building Blocks and provides tools and resources for improving patient care as well as implementation guidance for the program. Continue reading
Rx Pain Medications: Prescription Pain Medication Agreement
One strategy for improving safe opioid prescribing is to have the patient and the health care provider enter into a prescription pain medication agreement. This sample agreement from SAMHSA can be used as is or adapted as needed. Continue reading
Rx Pain Medications: What to Do if Your Medication Isn’t Working
This one page document gives patients information about what to do if their pain medication is not working. Continue reading
Rx Pain Medications: Talking to Your Patients About Opioids
This one page document for health care providers provides guidance about how to talk to patients about pain management and opioids. Continue reading
Rx Pain Medications: Safe Storage of Prescription Medications
A one page document for patients and caregivers with information about the risks of prescription medications for children and guidance for how to safely store medications in the home. Continue reading