Americans consider drug disposal and other strategies to be effective in addressing the opioid abuse epidemic.

With all eyes on this issue during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, it also is important to note the many other strategies that create a comprehensive approach to preventing opioid abuse and addiction while caring for those in pain.

ARLINGTON, Va. (PRWEB)
October 25, 2019

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is a chance to help keep opioids out of the wrong hands and to raise awareness of other critical resources that help keep patients, families and communities safe, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) said today.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and its partners showcase this event on October 26, 2019, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

“NACDS stands with the DEA, with law enforcement, with first responders, and with other community leaders who are helping Americans dispose of unused opioids, and helping prevent these drugs from becoming part of the problem. We are helping to create the surround sound that is necessary to raise awareness of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. NACDS members offer safe drug disposal options in thousands of locations nationwide, have donated the resources to offer these services in thousands of other locations, and have made possible the disposal of millions of pounds of these and other drugs,” said NACDS President & CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE.

“NACDS members offer diverse drug disposal solutions that are right for their particular stores and communities. These include secure kiosks, innovative solutions that safely destroy unwanted opioids, as well as other solutions. With all eyes on this issue during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, it also is important to note the many other strategies that create a comprehensive approach to preventing opioid abuse and addiction while caring for those in pain.”

A national survey conducted by Morning Consult and commissioned by NACDS October 17-20, 2019, found that voters recognize the effectiveness of an array of opioid-abuse prevention strategies.

The survey asked, “In your opinion, how effective or ineffective do you believe each of these initiatives are for reducing the abuse of legal, prescribed opioids?” The results were:

• 
  “Support patient and provider education on the risks of opioids” – 66% effective/19% ineffective/15% don’t know or no opinion
• “Participate in prescription drug monitoring programs, which tracks patient behaviors that may contribute to the opioid epidemic” – 64% effective/18% ineffective/18% don’t know or no opinion
• “Promote access to naloxone, a medication to prevent overdose” – 52% effective/24% ineffective/24% don’t know or no opinion
• “Participate in the disposal of unused medications to stem abuse” – 62% effective/21% ineffective/18% don’t know or no opinion
• “Cooperate with programs that help prescribers, pharmacies, and distributors comply with regulations that pertain to opioids” – 64% effective/19% ineffective/18% don’t know or no opinion
• “Sponsor community programs that focus on educating the public about opioids, and rehabilitating those with addiction” – 67% effective/19% ineffective/15% don’t know or no opinion.

In addition to pharmacies’ engagement in these initiatives, NACDS advances public policy recommendations designed to further address the opioid abuse epidemic.

More information about related policy issues is available at NACDS’ Access Agenda website.

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I am excited to join the Sunwave team and work on implementing strategic initiatives to ensure that the company continues to raise the bar for excellence in the industry.

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. (PRWEB)
October 24, 2019

Sunwave, a leading enterprise software provider for substance abuse treatment centers, today announced the appointment of James Brooks as the company’s new Chief Operating Officer (COO). A seasoned business development executive and IT operations leader, Brooks brings over 25 years of experience in the healthcare technology space to the rapidly growing company.

Prior to joining Sunwave, Brooks excelled in a number of senior-level business development roles at some of the top healthcare technology providers in the nation, including McKesson, Promise Healthcare, iCare, and Modernizing Medicine. He graduated from St. Cloud State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Speech Communication.

“We are thrilled to bring James Brooks on board as Sunwave’s Chief Operating Officer,” said Sunwave Chairman of the Board Jay Rosen. “Sunwave is experiencing explosive growth and we were highly selective in our search for a qualified C-suite leader who could fully leverage our ongoing success. Mr. Brooks has an outstanding track record managing high-performing teams and fostering a strong company culture, which will serve as an important asset to our company.”

Brooks added: “I am excited to join the Sunwave team and work on implementing strategic initiatives to ensure that the company continues to raise the bar for excellence in the industry. With its top-notch talent and best-in-class software platform, I truly believe that the sky is the limit for Sunwave.”

The preferred software provider for some of the largest substance abuse treatment centers in the United States, Sunwave’s all-in-one platform seamlessly combines custom electronic medical records (EMR), customer relationship management (CRM), and revenue cycle management (RCM) solutions, simplifying management operations and improving patient outcomes. In 2018, the company doubled its staff after achieving more than 500 percent sales growth. Earlier this year, Sunwave launched a strategic multi-million dollar partnership with Blueprint Equity, a California-based growth equity firm.

About Sunwave

Sunwave is a leading technology provider for substance abuse treatment centers. Its unified platform includes substance abuse EMR, CRM, and RCM software. Built from the ground up for the addiction treatment industry, it empowers treatment centers to manage all of their operations in a single, unified platform. With the powerful reporting capabilities of Sunwave, users are able to make informed decisions that position their businesses and patients for success.

To learn more about their product and services, visit: http://www.sunwavehealth.com.

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A Better Today Recovery Services Hosts an Open House

“We feel a social responsibility to be a guiding light for our community on this issue. If you have been impacted by addiction or are a local addiction professional, this open house is for you”

PHOENIX (PRWEB)
October 17, 2019

Addiction destroys countless lives. A Better Today Recovery Services is a treatment center in Phoenix, AZ, that’s on a mission to do something about it.

ABTRS is inviting the community and local addiction professionals to join that mission and attend an open house to discuss addiction and its impact. The event will be held on Tuesday, November 12th, 2019 from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm.

The open house will feature a presentation by the Phoenix Police Department. The PD will be sharing on the realities of addiction related issues in the community and how it is evolving on the streets of Phoenix.

An addiction interventionist who has over a decade of experience will share knowledge on the addiction intervention process. Jorn LeBlanc, Chief of Operations, at ABTRS said in a statement, “We feel a social responsibility to be a guiding light for our community on this issue. If you have been impacted by addiction or are a local addiction professional, this open house is for you.”

ABTRS will also be introducing their new Medical Director, Nikki Rippeteau. An M.D. who recently joined ABTRS’ mission of saving lives and healing families. Dr. Rippeteau has been practicing medicine for over 30 years and ABTRS is excited to have her join the team.

The event will also introduce several ABTRS support staff, many of whom have overcome addiction and have found meaning and purpose in supporting patients through the treatment process.

For over 10 years, ABTRS has offered substance abuse treatment to those who find themselves in the grips of addiction. Their treatment center is unique in that they offer a full continuum of care with various differing levels of detox, inpatient, and outpatient services. Earlier this year ABTRS unveiled the Recovery (R)Evolution, Independent Living program where patients can stay for up to a year after they graduate from treatment.

ABTRS strives to be an organization that communities and families can turn to for help and where those suffering from addiction can find healing. This community event is open to all and tickets are free, but there is a limited amount available.

For those interested in attending this event, please RSVP at the Eventbrite. Light snacks and refreshments will be served.

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OTIS provides the MotherToBaby service

The fact that this study showed no increased risk in adverse birth outcomes with the use of adalimumab in pregnancy is important since not a lot of research was previously available on this particular medication.

LA JOLLA, Calif. (PRWEB)
October 18, 2019

A new study conducted by birth defects experts from the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS) suggests adalimumab use in pregnancy was not associated with an increased risk for adverse outcomes examined, such as major structural birth defects, spontaneous abortion and preterm delivery. The findings were published today in the Public Library of Science (PLOS) One Journal.

The prospective research study conducted by OTIS examined 602 pregnancies that occurred between 2004 – 2016 in women across the U.S. and Canada. Researchers enrolled pregnant women into the observational cohort study who had or had not taken adalimumab for their autoimmune disease, as well as generally healthy pregnant women for comparison. OTIS is the scientific non-profit society that provides the no-cost MotherToBaby information service and enrolls women through the MotherToBaby Pregnancy Studies Research Center at the University of California San Diego. Financial support for the adalimumab study was provided by AbbVie.

“Many women hoping to start a family rely on adalimumab to control symptoms related to crippling autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or Crohn’s Disease,” said lead study author Christina Chambers, PhD, MPH, OTIS/MotherToBaby president and professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Diego. “The fact that this study showed no increased risk in adverse birth outcomes with the use of adalimumab in pregnancy is important since not a lot of research was previously available on this particular medication.”

The study also found that regardless of whether they took adalimumab or not, pregnant women with rheumatoid arthritis or Crohn’s Disease were at an increased risk of preterm birth (delivery before 37 weeks of pregnancy).

“Studies on medication use in general are lacking when it comes to understanding their effects on pregnancy, making it difficult for pregnant women and their healthcare providers to make informed decisions,” said Dr. Chambers. “We are proud to add valuable information to the literature and encourage more pregnant women to consider volunteering for critical observational studies.”

For more information on all of the current MotherToBaby Pregnancy Studies, please visit https://mothertobaby.org/pregnancy-studies/.

More about OTIS and MotherToBaby

The Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS) is a professional scientific society made up of individuals engaged in assessing and evaluating risks to pregnancy and breastfeeding from environmental exposures. Members include, but are not limited to, specialists in the fields of: obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, genetics, dysmorphology, perinatal epidemiology, teratology, behavioral teratology, pharmacy, genetic counseling, nursing, midwifery, maternal and child health, public health, and includes experts that provide MotherToBaby services and researchers that conduct MotherToBaby Pregnancy Studies. MotherToBaby is a suggested resource by many federal agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). To learn more about ongoing MotherToBaby Pregnancy Studies, call (877) 311-8972, email MotherToBaby@ucsd.edu or visit http://www.MotherToBaby.org.

# # #

Media Contact: Nicole Chavez, 619-368-3259, nchavez@MotherToBaby.org.

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“The UCI Center for Student Wellness & Health Promotion is excited to partner with Beginnings Treatment Centers to bring awareness and education about addiction and recovery to our UCI students” – Doug Everhart, Director of the UCI Center for Student Wellness & Health Promotion

IRVINE, Calif. (PRWEB)
October 18, 2019

Beginnings Treatment Centers, a Southern California Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment Center, is proud to act as the official sponsor of the Alcohol and Other Drug Awareness Week at the University of California, Irvine. The objective of the event is to empower students to make informed decisions around alcohol and other drugs through individual education and outreach programs to foster academic success and overall health and wellness.

“We are proud to partner with UCI to provide awareness to students about available resources for help with alcohol abuse and drug addiction,” said Tarek Greiss, CEO of Beginnings Treatment Centers. “Making the decision to get help for addiction is never easy, especially for a busy college student who may also be away from their family support and feel isolated and alone. Our admissions advisors are available 24 hours a day to make it easier for someone to decide whether or not we are the best choice for them. If we are not the right choice, we will help them to find an appropriate program.”

UCI Alcohol and Other Drug Awareness Week will occur the week starting 10/21/19. The event features a number of sessions for students, including Q&A with Addiction Experts, Informational Seminars, and Experiential Learning Activities. More information can be found or addiction help obtained by contacting the UCI Center for Student Wellness & Health Promotion. UCI students are encouraged to ask for help for themselves or other students who may have a problem with drugs or alcohol.

“The UCI Center for Student Wellness & Health Promotion is excited to partner with Beginnings Treatment Centers to bring awareness and education about addiction and recovery to our UCI students. This is an issue that impacts many individuals and their families, and these programs let students know that there are resources on campus and in the community that support them,” said Doug Everhart, Director of the UCI Center for Student Wellness & Health Promotion. “Whether they are experiences challenges themselves, they know someone who may be struggling, or they are just curious about addiction and recovery, these programs are designed to let students know they are surrounded by people and resources that support them.”

BeginningsTreatment Centers has helped over 20,000 people to recover from addiction to drugs or alcohol. Their Drug Rehab Center in Orange County is fully licensed by the State of California, and fully accredited by The Joint Commission, the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in healthcare. The goal at Beginnings is to uncover the root causes of addiction, build a foundation of sobriety, and bring relief to clients and their families.

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Pride Surveys Nicotine Vaping Chart

Here at Pride we have been monitoring e-cigarette use for our customers for the last five years and have seen the numbers explode. We feel it is important to lend our data to the conversation during this ’wild-west’ time for vaporizers.

MARIETTA, Ga. (PRWEB)
October 16, 2019

Statistics from Pride Surveys, a national leader in student survey data collection, show that vaping increased across the board for all students in grades 6-12 over a two-year period. The largest increase was found amongst 12th-grade students, 32.6% of whom reported using a nicotine vaporizer in the last 30 days, an increase year over year of 10.8% between 2017 and 2018.

These numbers are especially concerning given the CDC’s guidance on vaping tobacco products: E-cigarettes are not safe for youth, young adults, pregnant women, or adults who do not currently use tobacco products. Equally alarming is the current outbreak of identified cases of lung disease related to vaping products.

The Pride Survey and the Pride Survey Plus collected data from 5,306 12th grade students across the country and in communities where there are active community coalitions combating substance use in youth. The data are self-reported statistics from students used to evaluate the effectiveness of programs that are being implemented in the communities and to determine the need for such programs.

The publicly funded Monitoring the Future Survey, the National Youth Tobacco Survey, and the Pride Survey all show similar rates of increase in tobacco vaping. The Monitoring the Future Survey shows a 9.9% increase over the previous year and the National Youth Tobacco Survey shows a 10.8% increase which matched the increase reported by the Pride Survey. Although the surveys are not directly comparable due to differing methodologies, question structure, and cohorts, the similarities in these statistics help validate each other.

“The news about the current health issues and, in some instances, deaths are devastating. The Wilson County Substance Prevention Coalition is taking these reports seriously and is currently looking into educational materials and programming that can be distributed/presented to our counties youth in hopes of curbing the appeal of vaping/e-cigarette use,” said Jeff Hill, Director, Wilson County Substance Prevention Coalition. “The WCSPC feels that by providing access to real-time data and information, we can educate youth on the harms of e-cigarette usage, as well as parents in ways to identify when, how, and if their child may be using these products.”

“Here at Pride we have been monitoring e-cigarette use for our customers for the last five years and have seen the numbers explode. We feel it is important to lend our data to the conversation during this ’wild-west’ time for vaporizers,” said Jay Gleaton, President and CEO of Pride Surveys. “While we are still learning about the impact of vapor on the lungs, we already know about the habit-forming and developmental effects that the chemical nicotine can have on children and young adults’ brains.”

These survey results come at a time when big tobacco is taking notice of the trends in vaporizer products with the parent company of Marlboro buying a 35 percent stake in the vaping company JUUL for 13 billion dollars.

Pride Surveys has been collecting data on youth substance abuse and behavioral trends since 1982 and providing schools and communities with the ability to perform their own valid and reliable needs assessments tailored to the students in individual school settings.

About Pride Surveys: Pride Surveys was created in 1982 by professors at Georgia State University in Atlanta and Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY. Their purpose was to help local schools measure student alcohol, tobacco and other drug use through the use of student surveys. Since then, the survey company has developed a full range of survey products that measure behavior on many crucial issues that can affect learning, such as school climate, family, discipline, safety, substance use, perceptions of harm and more.

For more information on Pride Surveys, visit http://PrideSurveys.com, Facebook and Twitter at @ISAPrideSurveys, and LinkedIn at @Pride Surveys/International Survey Associates.

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It is an honor to share our models, best practices and outcomes alongside some of the most cutting-edge topics and presenters in our field, nationally and internationally

CRANSTON, R.I. (PRWEB)
October 16, 2019

CODAC Behavioral Healthcare, the largest non-profit, outpatient provider for opioid treatment in Rhode Island, today announced that it will be presenting at two sessions during the 2019 American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence, Inc. (AATOD) Conference to be held October 19 — 23, 2019 at Disney’s Coronado Spring Resort in Walt Disney World, FL. The goal of this year’s national and international conference is to educate, and promote the acceptance and integration of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) options by all stakeholders and systems affected by the opioid crisis, according to organizers. CODAC experts plan to highlight two of its most innovative programs: expansion of its nationally renowned addiction treatment behind bars initiative; and utilization of telehealth to provide MAT.    

“We are thrilled to be presenting once more at this important annual meeting that brings together an unprecedented number of peers and other key decision makers interested in exploring viable solutions to our nation’s opioid epidemic,” said Linda Hurley, President/CEO of CODAC. “It is an honor to share our models, best practices and outcomes alongside some of the most cutting-edge topics and presenters in our field, nationally and internationally.”

CODAC’s presentations at AATOD 2019 will be as follows:

• 
  Tuesday, October 22, 2019 — 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM

Workshop: Opioid Abuse as a Public Health Crisis and Overdose as an Epidemic

D5 – Implementing Telehealth in MAT to Better Serve Rural Areas

Primary Presenter(s): Dustin Alvanas, MBA — Vice President of Operations, CODAC

Co-Presenter(s): Christine Atkin, Program Analyst & Health Home Team Coordinator, and Mary Walton, Assistant Medical Director, CODAC

From program/schedule: CODAC Behavioral Healthcare, Rhode Island’s oldest and largest provider of Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) services, has developed a telehealth care model for immediate induction onto buprenorphine in rural and underserved areas. CODAC has established partnerships with federally qualified community health centers and EDs in rural areas to increase immediate access to and availability of care, reducing potential overdoses and mitigating stigma associated with MAT. The presentation outlines the telehealth model, program workflow, prescribing practice, and the use of technology in providing care. Participants will be provided with a transferable framework for establishing a telehealth program in their community.

• Wednesday, October 23, 2019 — 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM

Workshop: Community Partners & Continuum of Care

E2 – Implementing and Sustaining Enhanced MAT in Corrections: Considerations for Diversion, Recidivism and Saving Lives

Primary Presenter(s): Linda Hurley, MA CAGS, President and Chief Executive Officer, CODAC

Co-Presenter(s): Leslie Bridgman, MA, JD, LCDP, Director of Correctional Services, CODAC, and Rosemarie Martin, PhD, Assistant Professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health

From program/schedule: Presentation examines an expanded treatment program for opioid use disorder (OUD) implemented at the Rhode Island Department of Corrections, in collaboration with CODAC Behavioral Healthcare (contracted vendor) and Brown University. Called a model for all 50 states, this program has dramatically reduced overdose and mortality rates among newly released inmates. Impact on criminal justice concerns, along with barriers, challenges and outcomes, will be discussed from multiple perspectives. Participants will leave with information and tools needed to initiate or expand MAT for OUD in their own correctional settings.

About CODAC Behavioral Healthcare

CODAC Behavioral Healthcare, a non-profit organization founded in 1971, is Rhode Island’s oldest and largest provider of outpatient services for opioid use disorder, other substance use disorders, and concurrent behavioral health challenges. With eight locations across Rhode Island, CODAC has attained Center of Excellence designations for each of its treatment sites. CODAC has done extensive work with individuals involved in the criminal justice system since 1994 and, in 2016, launched a program with the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC) that was the first of its kind in the United States to screen all inmates for opioid use disorder and provide medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for those in need. Results from CODAC’s RIDOC program have been studied and published, and the program has been recognized as “a model for all 50 states” by the Department of Justice, SAMHSA and multiple other national agencies. In addition, CODAC is now licensed in Massachusetts to operate an Opioid Treatment Program (OTP). For more information about CODAC, visit: http://www.codacinc.org

About AATOD 2019

The 2019 American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence, Inc. (AATOD) Conference theme, “Out of the Shadows: Managing the Opioid Epidemic through the Continuum of Care,” highlights the issues and challenges of medication assisted treatment (MAT) in the context of the current opioid use/abuse epidemic, per organizers. The intent is to educate and promote acceptance and integration of MAT options by patients, families, clinicians, the medical system, judicial systems, government, policy makers, social service administrations, and the general public. For more information, visit https://www.eventscribe.com/2019/AATOD

Contact:

Alisha Bourdeau,CFO; CODAC

(401) 275-5038

abourdeau@codacinc.org

Bill Gordon; PR/Media Relations

646-924-6146

billgordon37@hotmail.com

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