In R.I. med school, efforts underway to fight opioid addiction

This week, Governor Gina Raimondo launched a new website and hotline to fight opioid addiction in the state. Nationally, and here in Rhode Island, medical schools have joined the cause.  Under pressure from the White House, over 60 United States medical schools pledged to teach new...

6.30.16

This week, Governor Gina Raimondo launched a new website and hotline to fight opioid addiction in the state. Nationally, and here in Rhode Island, medical schools have joined the cause. 
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Credit: frankieleon. 

Under pressure from the White House, over 60 United States medical schools pledged to teach new federal guidelines for prescribing opioid painkillers in April. Here in Rhode Island, Warren Alpert Medical School has been changing its training too, thanks in part to a new federal grant.  “So we received a grant to teach students how to screen individuals for substance misuse, not just opioids but also other recreational drugs and alcohol. And then for folks who screened positive, to teach them how to provide a brief intervention and then provide those patients with resources in the community for further treatment,” said Alpert’s Assistant Dean of Medical Education, Dr. Paul George. 

George says the goal isn’t necessarily to prescribe less opioids, but to be more cautious when prescribing these addictive painkillers. Along with these new preventative measures to fight prescription drug abuse, there is also a renewed interest in treatment.  

Overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in Rhode Island, but things could be looking up.  New data released by the Pew Charitable Trusts this week shows that Rhode Island has decreased its number of opioid prescriptions in the past few years more than any other state.

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