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Mass. General Becomes First ER in State to Offer MAT

Massachusetts General Hospital is the first emergency department to offer buprenorphine to patients with opioid use disorder who want to start treatment immediately.  

Doctors who want to prescribe buprenorphine, likely as a key part of a medication-assisted treatment (MAT) plan for opioid use disorder, can now opt to complete an eight-hour course—which includes listening to people who are on MAT and how it has improved their lives—and sign a physician waiver from the federal government. While this ensures that physicians know what it is they’re prescribing before they do so, some view this extra training as a hurdle by physicians that prevents them from offering this treatment.  

That is something Dr. Ali Raja, executive vice chairman of the Department of Emergency at Mass. General Hospital (Mass. General) is frustrated about.

“If you can come in with diabetes that’s out of control or horrible blood pressure, we can give you medication, we can help. But having somebody come in and ask for help with their opiate addiction and saying, ‘No, I’m sorry, there’s nothing we can do,’ that’s exceptionally frustrating,” said Raja.  

Changing The Prescription

However, things are changing. In March, Mass. General became the first emergency department in Massachusetts to offer MAT to patients with opioid use disorder. There will be at least one physician in the ER who is training in guiding patients through MAT.  

This is a significant change from emergency departments providing only referrals to detox programs, phone numbers, and even on occasion some discriminatory comments about how people with opioid use disorder should just stop taking drugs. Raja wants to be known as the place where people with opioid use disorder can go for help.  

According to the American College of Emergency Medicine, Raja is one of 66 doctors who say their emergency departments should offer some form of MAT. It is hoped the Mass. General’s actions will trigger a ripple effect in other U.S. hospitals.

Dr. Joshua Sharfstein and associate dean at John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health said, “What makes Mass. General initiative very important is, you and an extremely prominent hospital saying that we expect our doctors to be able to take care of opioid use disorder; this is not a condition of some other system, this is for us.” 

Physicians Face More Hurdles

Unlike traditional routes of recovery, including a short stay in detox or rehab, it is the intention that commencing MAT treatment in the emergency department will allow patients to go on and manage their care at home and in outpatient settings. They will be given a two-day supply and guidance on how to use the drug and connected to the Bridge Clinic where they can get follow up assistance.  

Sadly, a short course and waiver are not the only hurdles physicians face. Last year, former U.S. health and human services secretary, Tom Price, was noted as criticizing MAT by stating:

“If we’re just subsisting one opioid for another, we’re not moving the dial much. Folks need to be cured so they can be productive members of society and realize their dreams.”

As you can imagine, those comments caused an uproar in the medical community, as over 700 physicians and researchers responded with scientific evidence that in fact, MAT meets the highest standard of clinical evidence for safety and efficacy. 

The post Mass. General Becomes First ER in State to Offer MAT appeared first on Drug Rehab Options.

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The family uses the death of their child to spread awareness about addiction

[ad_1] James Cody Williams was 32 when he died of a fentanyl overdose in January. He was a customer at Safe Point Memphis and tried several times to clean it up.

MEMPHIS, Tennessee – A family uses the death of their child to raise awareness about drug addiction and highlight a program that spent years trying to help their child stay clean.

James Cody Williams died of a fentanyl overdose in January. He was a client at Safe Point Memphis, which is part of the Memphis Area Prevention Coalition. The organization helped him several times through its needle exchange program. James’ family held a memorial on Wednesday afternoon at one of the exchange sites.

“He always cared about other people and tried to help them. Even with his illness, because it was an illness,” David Williams said. “He loved his daughter, he tried to teach her from the day he was born and he misses her a lot. They were best friends.”

James was 32 years old when he died and was an only child. He left behind his eight-year-old daughter. Her daughter now has no parents because her mother died in a car accident when she was 14 months old. David said James had been battling addiction for 16 years. The addiction began when his best friend died.

“I had an illness, I didn’t want it,” David said. “He told me many times and tried to come down.”

James was in and out of rehab, but chose to become homeless because he was not allowed to do drugs in the house. While living on the street, Safe Point became his extended family.

“James was a special customer of ours. He was also very happy,” said Austin Carroll, coordinator of Safe Point’s syringe service program. “Always so happy to see us. He was here every Wednesday.”

Every Wednesday, Safe Point offers an anonymous needle exchange. Carroll said James had new needles on Wednesdays. The group establishes a connection with their clients, because when people show up for new needles, they also walk away with damage reduction supplies, Narcan, condoms, and can be tested for HIV. David said that because of this service, they were also able to check on their son several times.

“When we introduce ourselves week after week and are consistent when we build trust and relationship with our customers, it’s much easier for them to ask for help,” Carroll said. “It’s much easier for them to look for treatment.”

There is controversy over needle exchange programs. Some people think the program allows users, but Carrol said the program has helped more than 100 people receive treatment since 2019.

“They want to help. They’re good people and they want to help badly,” David said.

According to the Shelby County Department of Health, more than 46 people died due to a suspected overdose last week and 359 this year. If you or someone you know needs help, you can call the national addiction helpline at 1800-662-4357.

???? NEEDLE EXCHANGE TODAY‼ ️ WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22. – (Anonymous and confidential) ⏰ 13:00 – 15:00 ???? 28 N. Claybrook St. Memphis …

Posted by Safe Point on Wednesday, September 22, 2021

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IRETA supports addiction recovery in Pittsburgh

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More than 107,000 Americans lost their lives to drug overdoses in 2021, leaving behind countless family and friends who still feel their absence. Those lives, which have been cut short, no longer have the potential for joy, change or gratitude. However, those who are struggling with substance use have a good chance of recovery. Research indicates that one in 10 Americans has experienced drug and alcohol problems and gotten better.

Addiction recovery is as common as being left-handed. But stigma and pessimism about addiction persist and contribute to painful, and often tragic, outcomes.

“Stigma hides the success stories that happen every day in our backyard. Your neighbor may be in recovery, but you’re unlikely to know,” said Jess Williams, a recovering Pittsburg resident who advocates against the ‘stigma of addiction.

Experts point to stigma as a major barrier to help-seeking of any kind, including professional treatment, community services such as needle exchanges, or social support in general. Reluctance to seek help means someone is less likely to receive naloxone, which reverses the overdose. They are less likely to find a supportive therapist. In short, they are more likely to suffer and die.

Stigma doesn’t just affect one person. It leaves families with condemnation rather than support. It has been said that “no one brings you a pan when your child has an addiction.” Ohio Township resident John Watts lost his son, Carter, to an overdose at age 20. During the years he dealt with addiction, Carter also struggled with mental health issues, homelessness and growing physical health problems. Like his father, Watts struggled to provide help that respected Carter’s autonomy.

John Watts (left) and his son Carter while fishing. (Photo courtesy of Tony Lolli)

After many efforts to help lead Carter on the path to healing, Watts realized that “we would continue to fail if we tried to help him choose … ultimately it should be his discovery and choice.” But for Carter, Watts observed, any path to recovery was clouded by danger and inadequate support. “As a teenager and then a young adult find some kind of recovery, even if they want to, while they’re homeless, out of work, out of education, struggling with triggers and mental health, while they’re looking for food and a bathroom and a place to sleep ?while many demons of different forms pursue them?

State Rep. Jim Struzzi, R-Indiana, lost his brother, Michael, to an overdose in 2014. Since then, Struzzi has been passionate about spreading a message of hope to Pennsylvanians affected by addiction.

“I understand the devastating impact drug addiction can have on people’s lives and their families,” Struzzi said. “Everyone in our society is affected, but there is hope. This is why supporting recovery is so important. People struggling with addiction need to know that others care and there is a path back to a positive and rewarding quality of life.”

Participants in the Pittsburgh Walk for Recovery. (Photo courtesy of Kyle Harder)

Struzzi is co-sponsoring a bill to legalize fentanyl test strips, which would help identify the presence of highly potent opioids in the drug supply and prevent future overdose deaths. He will speak at this year’s Pittsburgh Walk for Recovery, which will be held on September 17.

More than a year after Carter’s death in 2021, Watts described participating in the Pittsburgh Recovery Walk as a way to experience the kind of supportive, non-judgmental world she wishes Carter had lived in.

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“I am volunteering and supporting the Pittsburgh Recovery Walk so that I can help, but not allow, others like my son, as I would have wanted the same support from others for Carter when there was still time for us,” she said Watts.

Several thousand participants are expected in this year’s Pittsburgh Recovery Walk, which is free and includes a large resource fair, children’s activities, speakers sharing personal stories and a 1-mile parade through downtown.

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Source: IRETA supports addiction recovery in Pittsburgh

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