01/31/2017

Ohio ACEP to Continue Fight Against Opioid Abuse

Ohio’s emergency physicians are committed to helping end the epidemic

One of Ohio ACEP’s top priorities for 2017 will be our ongoing efforts to battle the current opioid addiction and overdose epidemic. As many of our members will recall, in 2016, Ohio ACEP launched the NIX Opiates campaign against teen opioid abuse in Ohio. Led by Ohio ACEP Board Member Dr. Ryan Squier, the program brings emergency physicians into Ohio high schools to speak candidly with students about addiction, drug abuse, and overdose.

We’re happy to report that NIX Opiates has received outstanding feedback from parents and students alike and has gained plenty of positive media attention in Central Ohio. More high school presentations are scheduled, and we look forward to continuing our mission to #EndTheEpidemic.

An important part of our fight against opioid abuse is to counter the misperception that irresponsible prescribing by emergency physicians is driving the epidemic. It’s crucial that government officials and the public understand that while emergency departments are ground zero for treating victims of the epidemic, relatively few opioids are actually dispensed there: Even though 42% of the nation’s 136 million ED visits are related to a painful condition, emergency physicians account for less than 5% of all opioid prescriptions, most of which are short-term prescriptions from low-dose immediate-release opioids.

In addition to these efforts, Ohio ACEP recognizes that any effective long-term solution to the crisis will include increased access to addiction treatment, and we look forward to working with lawmakers to achieve that goal.