Governor Daniel J. McKee's Overdose Prevention and Intervention Task Force
October 2022 |
|
|
 Thank you for joining us at the Governor's Overdose Prevention and Intervention Task Force meeting.
October's meeting featured an update on fatal overdose data as well as a five-person panel focusing on the crisis of contaminated substances with presentations on testRI, New England High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, the Rhode Island Buprenorphine Hotline, and CODAC Behavioral Healthcare.
You can find this month's PowerPoint presentations and Zoom audio recording on the Prevent Overdose RI (PORI)'s Presentation Archive webpage.
The next Governor's Overdose Prevention and Intervention Task Force Meeting will be held on November 9 from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Share this newsletter!
If someone you know would like to sign up to receive this newsletter, please share this link.
|
|
Consider Getting Involved with Task Force Efforts
The Governor’s Overdose Prevention and Intervention Task Force relies on the support, engagement, and feedback from its various work groups: Prevention, Rescue, Harm Reduction, Treatment, Recovery, First Responder, Racial Equity, Substance-Exposed Newborns and Family. The work groups meet on a monthly or bi-monthly basis and are always welcoming new volunteers. Learn more
|
|
|
Opioid Settlement Advisory Meeting
|
|
|
|
The next Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee meeting will take place on October 27 at 1 p.m. Participants can join in person at the Department of Administration Conference Rooms on the second floor or via Zoom.
|
|
 September was National Recovery Month, and Rally4Recovery events were held in Providence, Bristol, and Warwick. The rally held at Roger Williams Park drew some 3,500 people and featured 60 resource tables, guest speakers, music, painting, games, food trucks, and other activities for all ages.
Hundreds of naloxone kits, fentanyl test strips, and family crisis toolkits were distributed, and HIV/hepatitis C testing was offered by Project Weber/RENEW.
New to the Providence rally this year was the addition of a job fair, hosted by the Rhode Island Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative. Hundreds of people had conversations and made connections with potential employers and 68 jobs were filled.
Many thanks to the record number of volunteers who helped make the 2022 Rally4Recovery a big success!
|
|
|
Alcohol-Related Overdose Deaths
|
|
|
The Latest Report from the Overdose Fatality Review (OFR) Team
In August 2022, the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) OFR Team conducted a systematic review of five cases involving individuals who lost their lives to alcohol-involved accidental drug overdoses between November 1, 2021 and February 28, 2022. The team's findings are presented in the latest OFR Report which can be read here.
The core OFR Team as well as members of the Prevention Strategy Work Group for the Governor’s Overdose Prevention and Intervention Task Force and treatment providers from local behavioral health organizations participated in the case review.
In the coming months, the OFR Team will be exploring opportunities for growth, involving the potential recruitment of new OFR members (spots are limited). Stay tuned as the OFR Team shares more information about recruitment during future Task Force meetings. If you have any questions, please contact Heather Seger.
|
|
|
Federal Funding to Support Recovery
|
|
|
|
President Biden recently announced that his administration would distribute $1.5 billion to states and territories, including tribal lands, to fund responses to opioid overdoses and support recovery. The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will disseminate the funding through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) State Opioid Response and Tribal Opioid Response grant programs. The grants will include more than $104 million allocated to rural areas to expand treatment and prevention, $20.5 million to increase access to recovery supports across the country, and $12 million to bolster law enforcement in High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA). Learn more from The Hill here.
|
|
|
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
|
|
|
|
 Mark your calendars for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on October 29 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Prescription drugs, like opioids and antibiotics, should never be shared. If you have any unused prescriptions around the house, it’s important to dispose of them safely.
You can drop off these and any medications, no questions asked, at the Rhode Island State Police barracks and most local police departments. For a listing of prescription drug take back locations near you, click here or visit PORI's Get Rid of Medications Safely webpage.
|
|
|
CDC Report on Para-Fluorofentanyl
|
|
|
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Notes from the Field and Prevention: Overdose Deaths Involving Para-fluorofentanyl — United States, July 2020–June 2021.
This analysis examined State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS) data from July 2020 to June 2021 in 42 states and the District of Columbia, and focused on overdose deaths involving para-fluorofentanyl.
According to the MMWR, the number of para-fluorofentanyl–involved deaths increased 455% from 253 during July–December 2020 to 1,405 during January–June 2021, highlighting the need for expanded, enhanced toxicology testing to detect para-fluorofentanyl and other emerging drugs.
|
|
|
October 25 | 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m. | Community Overdose Engagement (CODE) Workshop for Municipal Leaders
Municipal leaders and community partners are invited to participate in a workshop, Data-Driven Interventions: Examples from the Community. This virtual, interactive session is the latest in the state's CODE technical assistance series.
The workshop will provide opportunities to:
- Understand the importance of implementing evidence-based and data-informed strategies for overdose prevention and response.
- Learn strategies from each pillar (prevention, rescue, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery) that can be implemented at the local level.
- Connect with community partners and other municipalities to leverage impact and increase reach.
Register here by close of business on October 24.
These workshops are being developed by RIDOH, in partnership with the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services, the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals, Brown University, and the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns.
|
|
Grants Available for Reproductive Health and Family Planning
RIDOH's Reproductive Health (Family Planning) Program invites mini-grant applications from organizations or agencies affiliated with or a part of a nonprofit, school, community-based agency, coalition, or grassroots organization to support integration of reproductive health/family planning counseling and referrals into services offered by community-based recovery and/or substance use treatment providers. (http://health.ri.gov/rfp/).
Completed applications must be submitted electronically to Sounivone Phanthavong no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, October 18, 2022.
Please direct questions about this opportunity to Sounivone Phanthavong.
Newport Mental Health has Job Openings
Newport Mental Health currently has the following open positions for its MCOT Program which is a trauma-informed, CAHOOTS-like program being developed in both Newport and Bristol Counties in partnership with Horizon Healthcare Partners. All of these positions qualify for a $3,000 bilingual stipend. To apply, click here.
RIDOH Seeks Health Equity Communications Manager
The RIDOH Center for Public Health Communication is recruiting for a contract Health Equity Communications Manager position. See job description here. This position is funded through May 31, 2023, with the potential for extended funding. Candidates interested in applying can contact Lea DiPasquale and reference Posting ID# 109668.
URI Seeks Pharmacy Technician
The University of Rhode Island has an opportunity for a pharmacy technician to work in the Community First Responder Program (CFRP). Interested applicants should visit University Of Rhode Island Applicant Portal | Technician, Pharmacy/Community First Responder Program (CFRP)
|
|
|
Free Naloxone and Naloxone Training
|
|
|
 Learn the signs of an overdose and how to respond with this brief naloxone training (English, Spanish) from PORI and The University of Rhode Island's Community First Responder Program (CFRP). After completing the training modules, you will be prompted to order a free intranasal naloxone (Narcan®) kit which can be delivered to your address at no cost.
The CFRP also offers free naloxone training for your organization, school, or business. Request a free seminar here.
|
|
|
Follow and share more happenings with these resources:
|
|
Stay Connected with Us
Reply to this email to share:
- News and upcoming events related to Task Force efforts.
- Feedback on how we can strengthen our communications.
- Details on upcoming public events.
|
|
|
|
|
|
