Opioid Addiction Treatment Prioritized by Lawmakers in Salem, Oregon

SALEM, Ore. - May 1, 2018 - PRLog -- Attorney General Ellen F. Rosenblum announced this month that $600,000 will be granted to two organizations offering opioid addiction treatment programs and other recovery services.

Of that, $260,000 will go to the Oregon Health Authority to allow for the expansion of the Prescription Drug Overdose Prevention and Clinical Prescribing Guidelines Implementation Project, which will consequently increase the number of healthcare providers who use safe opioid prescribing practices and recommendations of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Department of Family Medicine at the Oregon Health and Sciences University will be receiving $360,000 of the grant for the expansion of Project Nature — an addiction treatment program that caters to pregnant women in several different locations across Oregon.

Gov. Kate Brown signed an order in March that emphasizes the substance abuse crisis of Oregon and establishes a number of deadlines.

Last month, she also signed two bills that aim to fight the opioid crisis. One bill reflects the order, featuring specific timelines and deadlines for state agencies.

The other bill has a number of goals: curbing doctor shopping, easing access to opioid addiction treatment services and improving opioid prescribing practices in the state, among others.

The second bill also supports new studies that look for new ways to reduce drug abuse.

The need for more is there: the Health Authority of Oregon shows that there were at least 250 deaths related to prescription and illicit opioids in the state last year. Meanwhile, a total of 41 people experienced a drug overdose went to the Salem Hospital.

https://www.drugaddictionnow.com/2018/04/30/opioid-addict...