Office hours:M - F 9:00AM-5:00PM - Clinic Hours M-Sa by AppointmentEMAIL:1Rd2Recovery@gmail.com
   
Screen-Shot-2018-12-05-at-8.39.12-AM-1200x671.png
roadtorecovery
19/Dec/2018
Detox & RecoverySubstance Use0

Suboxone Patient Wins Lawsuit

In Maine, as in most other states in the U.S., patients on medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder weren’t allowed to take their life-saving medications while incarcerated.

All that changed in October of this year, when the American Civil Liberties Union settled a lawsuit with the Maine Department of Corrections. The ACLU sued on behalf of Zach Smith, who has been on Suboxone for five years as treatment for opioid use disorder. He was told he would have to stop taking Suboxone during his incarceration. I wrote of the pending case in my blog on August 12, 2018.

We know that if denied his medication, he would go through physical opioid withdrawal and would be at higher risk for overdose death, particularly immediately after release from incarceration.

The ACLU took his case and settled a lawsuit with the Maine Department of Corrections, which ultimately agreed to allow him to continue on his medication. Jailers warn that this was a “special case” and that they would not necessarily allow other prisoners to take buprenorphine as prescribed by a physician. However, this appears to be a clear precedent for other patients and other lawsuits.

I think this is a landmark case for our patients. MAT is the standard of care, and it should be illegal to refuse to provide this treatment to people who are sentenced to incarceration. The diversion of Suboxone films has been an issue for many years beause patients in opioid withdrawal can’t access suboxone through any legal channel. This creates a black market for suboxone, and jailers across the country have complained loudly about this situation – that is of their own creation.

The ACLU is supporting patients in their fight to continue medication-assisted treatments during incarceration is other states, too. According to the ACLU website, a similar case is pending in Washington state.

If you are a patient – or know a patient – who is being denied medication-assisted treatment during incarceration, I hope you have a lawyer who is willing for fight for your rights. If you do not, consider reaching out to the ACLU in your state:

CONTINUE READING
Screen-Shot-2018-11-01-at-10.08.22-AM-1200x781.png
roadtorecovery
19/Dec/2018
Substance Use0

FREE Think Tank & Discussion: Is someone you love abusing alcohol or drugs?

Please join us November 29th for this free event.

5:30-7:30pm
CMC’s Albright Auditorium

Topics include:

  • Encourage sober behavior with positive communication and natural consequences for substance abuse.
  • Build self-esteem with healthy social supports, self-care, and skills to live successfully.
  • Inspire treatment with “motivational hooks” used during windows of opportunity.

Appetizers will be served. Please RSVP by November 24th.  (2 CME)

RSVP NOW
CONTINUE READING
Meme_overdose_can_affect_anyone1.jpg
roadtorecovery
19/Dec/2018
Substance Use0

Volunteer Needs: International Overdose Awareness Day

About International Overdoes Awareness Day – August 31, 2018

International Overdose Awareness Day aims to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of a drug-related death.

It is also an opportunity to stimulate discussion about evidence-based overdose prevention and drug policy.

International Overdose Awareness Day acknowledges the grief felt by families and friends remembering those who have died or suffered permanent injury due to drug overdose.

International Overdose Awareness Day spreads the message about the tragedy of drug overdose death and that drug overdose is preventable.

The goals of International Overdose Awareness Day are:

  • To provide an opportunity for people to publicly mourn loved ones in a safe environment, some for the first time without feeling guilt or shame.
  • To include the greatest number of people in International Overdose Awareness Day events, and encourage non-denominational involvement.
  • To give community members information about the issue of fatal and non-fatal overdose.
  • To send a strong message to current and former people who use drugs that they are valued.
  • To stimulate discussion about overdose prevention and drug policy.
  • To provide basic information on the range of support services that are available.
  • To prevent and reduce drug-related harm by supporting evidence-based policy and practice.
  • To inform people around the world about the risk of overdose.

Updates

  • County Commissioners provided approval to post easels with poster board on them on the courthouse lawn for community members to place their handprint
  • Old Town Pub chose to take a back seat on their participation due to concerns of sending the wrong message by using a liquor establishment as our base
  • Bank of the West agreed to allow us to put up flags in the lawn showing the number of lives affected nationally
  • Confirming with Kali’s Boutique to make sure we can use the full lawn space (don’t anticipate it to be an issue)
  • Secured interest from the paper as well as Steamboat Radio to cover the event pre and post; as soon as we have a confirmed location I’ll start working on the press materials
  • In communication with the schools to secure interest and the possibility of allowing students to place a handprint on poster board signifying how they’ve been impacted by overdose
  • More to come on that as we hear back
  • Steamboat Police and Fire Departments have also said they would help support during the day and we are working with them to determine exactly what that looks like
  • CMC has declined to light up the campus this year due to not enough turnaround time and ability to navigate what is needed to accomplish this

Volunteer Needs

  • Signup.com – Susan Petersen is setting this up as soon as we have a confirmed location and times for the event
  • Volunteer needs will include placing flags, securing supplies, set up, breakdown and staffing throughout the day (Courthouse lawn – hopefully, and within the schools, if needed)
  • Promotion and social media posts
  • Lindsey is creating the poster to announce events during the day
  • Once the posters are complete we will need help posting them around town
  • We are working on social media posts and ask that anyone and everyone share on their person/business feeds to help get the word out
  • Please follow Grand Futures on Facebook to make sure you are seeing these posts and can re-post as appropriate
  • Lindsey is drafting all media materials to share with the radio and paper
  • Educational materials
  • Maddison and Mara have been working together to create handouts to inform people about overdose and specific drugs (e.g., opioids, Naloxone, etc.)

Questions? Contact Lindsey Simbeye

Grand Futures Prevention Coalition | Executive Director

Phone: 970-819-7805 | Email: lindsey@grandfutures.org

CONTINUE READING
roadtorecovery
19/Dec/2018
Mental Illness0

Local practice named as ‘health care innovator’ by Gov. Hickenlooper Road to Recovery ‐ Lakewood accepted into CO State Innovation Model

Denver – August 2018 – Road to Recovery ‐ Lakewood was accepted into the Colorado State Innovation Model (SIM), a federally funded, governor’s office initiative that helps primary care providers deliver whole‐person care. It is one of 21 practices in Jefferson County to be accepted into the federally funded, governor’s office initiative, which runs through July 2019.

“SIM providers in these cohorts must focus on the entire patient, which means addressing mind, body and mental wellness,” said Donna Lynne, Lieutenant Governor and Chief Operating Officer, who has many years of leadership experience in the health care sector. “That complete approach to health is what makes the SIM initiative is so valuable. Patients get the care they need when they need it, and providers learn how to succeed with new payment models. It’s a great example of meaningful reform in our state.”

Patients interviewed by SIM staff notice and appreciate the work done by practices. “It’s powerful for me, as a patient, to land somewhere I feel well taken care of,” said Mary Catherine Conger, a patient at Roaring Fork Family Practice, during a SIM podcast (https://bit.ly/2nzuieO).

Whole‐person care Colorado was the only state (out of 11 selected for a SIM model test award) to focus on integrated behavioral and physical health care supported by public and private payers as its primary goal. The initiative helps providers progress along an integrated care path continuum that might start with referrals and could lead to co‐location of behavioral and physical health professionals in primary care settings. Integrated care improves patient outcomes, reduces health care costs and enhances provider morale. About 1,847 SIM providers in cohorts 1‐2 deliver care during 3,342,018 annual patient visits.

The efforts also benefit providers. “It’s energizing to give the kind of care you envision instead of being frustrated every day,” said Gary Knaus, MD, Roaring Fork Family Practice, a SIM cohort‐1 practice. “Somewhere in your gut you feel like, ‘God, I could do better.’”

SIM launched with 100 practice sites in 2016, added 155 practices in 2017 and will help about 25% of the state’s primary care sites and four community mental health centers deliver whole‐person care.

Colorado will receive $65 million from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to implement this model for health care innovation, which is expected to save or avoid $126.6 million in health care costs for CMS with a 1.95 return on investment during its four‐year time frame.

Learn more:

  • SIM website: www.colorado.gov/healthinnovation
  • Proof that integrated care improves health: www.colorado.gov/healthinnovation/sim‐data‐hub

Download this article.

CONTINUE READING
fetaure-2-1200x628.jpg
roadtorecovery
19/Dec/2018
Pain Management/MedicineSubstance Use0

Buffet Open House: The Latest and Greatest in Non-Opioid Pain Management

Please join us for an open house and learn about the latest in non-opioid pain management.  As the opioid epidemic rises locally and nationwide, our non-opioid management and recovery methods are more important than ever.

Event Details:

What: Dinner Buffet and Presentation
Where: CMC’s Allbright Auditorium
When: 5-8:00pm April 19. 2018, with speakers presenting 6-7:30pm

 

CONTINUE READING
president-trump-gun-control.jpg
roadtorecovery
19/Dec/2018
Detox & RecoveryPain Management/MedicinePressSubstance Use6

NAATP Public Policy Update: Last Week in Washington: White House Opioid Summit, CARA 2.0 Introduced

PPU: 03.05.18

There was a flurry of activity in Washington last week. The White House held its long anticipated Opioid Summit. Participants discussed actions already taken by the Administration. While statements were made that anyone who needs treatment should be able to access it, the tone of the event was focused on a tougher law enforcement approach. The President mentioned that perhaps drug dealers in the US should be executed.

CONTINUE READING

Older Posts

Copyright Road to Recovery 2018. All rights reserved.