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SAMHSA Prescription Drug Abuse Weekly Update
WEEKLY
UPDATE
Issue 133  |  July 30, 2015
The Prevention of Prescription Drug Abuse in the Workplace (PAW) TA Center addresses prescription drug abuse—a growing public health problem with increasing burdens on workers, workplaces, and our economy. To subscribe colleagues, family members, or friends to this listserv sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), please click here or send their e-mail addresses to paw@dsgonline.com.
Table of Content Webinar Featured Article Journal Articles and Reports Professional Education and Policy Debate National Marijuana Northeast/Mid-Atlantic News Southern News Midwest News West News Other Resources Webinars Grant Award Grant Announcement National Take-Back Initiative Take-Back Events Upcoming Conferences and Workshops

Webinar

Prescription Drug Misuse: A Training for Corporate Medical Staff and MROs
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Preventing Prescription Abuse in the Workplace Technical Assistance Center
August 3, 2015, 3–4 p.m. (EST)

Register:
https://webtraining.rti.org/registration/?eventid=cdf60c3d-1af2-45e0-9aaf-04bee49ed86d

Featured

More Than Four in 10 Americans Say They Have Tried Marijuana
Justin McCarthy, Gallup
July 22, 2015

A July 2015 nationally representative Gallup poll found 10 percent of American adults smoke marijuana, and 44 percent admit they have tried
the drug—a jump from 38 percent in 2013. The percentage of Americans who admit trying marijuana has risen steadily from 4 percent in 1969. In pooled 2013 and 2015 poll data, Americans under 30 were most likely to say they currently smoke pot (18 percent), but those ages 30–64 were most likely to say they had ever tried it.

Read more:
http://www.gallup.com/poll/184298/four-americans-say-tried-marijuana.aspx

Journal Articles and Reports

L. Aletraris, M.B. Edmond, M. Paino, D. Fields, and P.M. Roman. 2015. "Counselor Training and Attitudes Toward Pharmacotherapies for Opioid Use Disorder." Substance Abuse, doi:10.1080/08897077.2015.1062457.

Mail surveys conducted between June 2009 and January 2012 of randomly selected counselors working in a nationally representative sample of 307 substance use disorder treatment programs got responses from 816 counselors (a 66 percent response rate), with 725 usable responses. Counselors reported greater acceptance of and training on buprenorphine compared with methadone. Methadone was rated as the least acceptable treatment approach. Medication-specific training, adaptability, and educational attainment were positively related with perceptions of acceptability of any medication-assisted treatment, even after controlling for organizational characteristics. Adherence to a 12-step orientation was negatively associated with acceptability.

Read more:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26168816

E.G. Benotsch, R.S. Zimmerman, L. Cathers, J. Pierce, S. McNulty, T. Heck, P.B. Perrin, and D.J. Snipes. 2015. "Non-Medical Use of Prescription Drugs and HIV Risk Behaviour in Transgender Women in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States." International Journal of STD & AIDS, doi:10.1177/0956462415595319.

During an unstated time period, 104 male-to-female transgender women recruited at community venues in Richmond, Va., and Washington, D.C., completed written surveys (96 percent response rate). One fourth reported lifetime nonmedical use of prescription drugs. Those reporting nonmedical use were more likely to report other substance use, needle use to inject drugs, injecting silicone, and sharing needles. In multivariable analyses, nonmedical use of prescription drugs was associated with unprotected sex, sex after engaging in substance use, and commercial sex work. Self-esteem and social support from family served as protective factors. Drugs used nonmedically included pain relievers (21.2 percent), anxiolytics (14.4 percent), stimulants (12.5 percent), and sedatives (8.7 percent).

Read more:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26185044

E. Evans, A. Kellegan, L. Li, J. Min, D. Huang, D. Urada, Y.I. Hser, and B. Nosyk. 2015. "Gender Differences in Mortality Among Treated Opioid Dependent Patients." Drug and Alcohol Dependence, doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.07.010.

Checking vital statistics data on all patients first enrolled in publicly funded pharmacological treatment for opioid dependence in California from 2006 to 2010 revealed 1,031 of the patients died over a median 2.6 years of follow-up, including 2.2 percent of 11,564 women and 3.7 percent of 20,758 men. Among those treated, women were more likely to die than men (relative risk 1.18). Women also had a greater risk of mortality compared with the general population (standardized mortality ratio [SMR] 5.1) and with men (SMR 4.3). In multivariate analysis, male mortality risk was lower among those employed full time and higher among non-daily heroin users (relative to daily users) as well as those with medical problems. Concurrent opioid and methamphetamine/cocaine use was associated with higher mortality risk among women but lower risk among men.

Read more:
http://www.drugandalcoholdependence.com/article/S0376-8716(15)00381-6/abstract

S. Farhat, S.S. Hussain, Y.H. Rather, and S.K. Hussain. 2015. "Sociodemographic Profile and Pattern of Opioid Abuse Among Patients Presenting to a De-Addiction Centre in Tertiary Care Hospital of Kashmir." Journal of Basic and Clinical Pharmacy 6(3):94–97, doi:10.4103/0976-0105.160751.

Interviews with 200 opioid patients who presented for de-addiction treatment in Kashmir, India, between March 2013 and August 2014 found most were using diverted pharmaceuticals. Three fourths of patients were between the ages of 20 and 30. Fifty-five percent had been misusing medicines for less than 3 years, 30 percent had been misusing for 4–6 years, and 15 percent had misused for a longer period. The most common routes of administration were oral (35 percent), chasing (13 percent), and intravenous (11 percent). Peer pressure was the main reason patients tried opioids.

Read more:
http://www.jbclinpharm.org/article.asp?issn=0976-0105;year=2015;volume=6;issue=3;spage=94;epage=97;aulast=Farhat;type=0
=6;issue=3;spage=94;epage=97;aulast=Farhat;type=0


A.R. Galluccia and R.J. Martin. 2015. "Misuse of Prescription Stimulant Medication in a Sample of College Students: Examining Differences Between Varsity Athletes and Non-Athletes." Addictive Behaviors, doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2015.07.004.

A written survey of Baylor University undergraduates administered in core courses or at varsity athletic practice in spring 2014 sampled 482 nonathletes and 200 athletes. Overall, 16.6 percent of nonathletes and 7.5 percent of varsity athletes reported past-year prescription stimulant misuse. Consistent with prior studies, past-year misuse was higher among students who consumed energy drinks, used tobacco, and drank heavily.

Read more:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030646031500249X?np=y

K.E. Lasser, C. Shanahan, V. Parker, D. Beers, Z. Xuan, O. Heymann, A. Lange, and J.M. Liebschutz. 2015. "A Multicomponent Intervention to Improve Primary Care Provider Adherence to Chronic Opioid Therapy Guidelines and Reduce Opioid Misuse: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol." Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, doi:10.1016/j.jsat.2015.06.018.

This article describes the design of an ongoing trial. At four Boston health centers serving low-income adults, researchers randomized 53 primary care physicians who will treat 1,200 patients in long-term opioid therapy for musculoskeletal or neuropathic pain. Treatment and control physicians manage patients with the same electronic medical record tools. Randomly selected physicians will also use nurse care management and a patient registry and will receive academic detailing on opioid management. The study is tracking provider adherence to chronic opioid therapy guidelines, patient opioid misuse, and diversion for 1 year post-enrollment (which ran from December 2012 through March 2015).

Read more:
http://www.journalofsubstanceabusetreatment.com/article/S0740-5472(15)00166-X/abstract

B. Setnik, C.L. Roland, K.W. Sommerville, G.C. Pixton, R. Berke, A. Calkins, and V. Goli. 2015. "A Multicenter, Primary Care-Based, Open-Label Study to Identify Behaviors Related to Prescription Opioid Misuse, Abuse, and Diversion in Opioid-Experienced Patients with Chronic Moderate-to-Severe Pain." Journal of Pain Research 8:361–73, doi:10.2147/JPR.S82396.

Among 684 patients in a 35-state, primary care–based evaluation of converting opioid-experienced patients with chronic pain to morphine sulfate with sequestered naltrexone hydrochloride, 537 returned a self-assessment survey. Sixty percent of respondents had taken more opioids than prescribed, 11 percent had chewed or crushed their opioids, and 41 percent exhibited aberrant usage. One third had at least one abnormal urine drug test result.

Read more:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4501355

L.S. Steele, E.M. Macdonald, T. Gomes, S. Hollands, J.M. Paterson, M.M. Mamdani, and D.N. Juurlink. 2015. "Rates of Anomalous Bupropion Prescriptions in Ontario, Canada." Annals of Family Medicine 13(4):343–46, doi:10.1370/afm.1818.

Bupropion, a misused prescription medicine, treats major depressive disorder and aids smoking cessation. This study used April 2000 to March 2013 Ontario prescription data on adults under 65 to compare prescription patterns for bupropion versus citalopram and sertraline antidepressants not known to be prone to misuse. Across almost 1.8 million prescriptions, early bupropion refills dispensed within 50 percent of the duration of the preceding prescription declined from 4.8 percent in 2000–01 to 3.1 percent in 2012–13. In the final quarter, the early refill rate for bupropion was significantly above citalopram's rate (3.1 vs 2.2 percent) but not sertraline's (2.9 percent). Potentially duplicitous, temporally overlapping bupropion prescriptions from a different prescriber and different pharmacy increased dramatically, from < 0.05 percent in early 2000 to 0.47 percent in early 2013—well above the rates for citalopram (0.11 percent) and sertraline (0.12 percent).

Read more:
http://annfammed.org/content/13/4/343.full

Professional Education and Policy Debate

B. Namdari and S.H. Kollins. 2015. "Stimulants: Abuse and Performance Enhancement (or Lack Thereof)." Focus 13(3):283–89, doi:10.1176/appi.focus.130302.

This article briefly reviews the developmental history and pharmacology of stimulant medications, and outlines the increasing patterns of illicit use and mixed evidence for enhancement.

Read more:
http://focus.psychiatryonline.org/doi/abs/10.1176/appi.focus.130302

R.C. Manworren and A.M. Gilson. 2015. "CE: Nurses' Role in Preventing Prescription Opioid Diversion." American Journal of Nursing, doi:10.1097/01.NAJ.0000470398.43930.10.

Nurses can help prevent prescription opioid diversion by teaching patients the risks, informing them about safekeeping and proper drug disposal, and tracking their analgesic use.

Read more:
http://journals.lww.com/ajnonline/Abstract/publishahead/CE___Nurses__
Role_in_Preventing_Prescription.99896.aspx


P.R. Martin and A.J. Reid Finlayson. 2015. "Opioid Use Disorder During Pregnancy in Tennessee: Expediency vs. Science." The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse 0(0):1–4.

This commentary focuses on pharmacological management of prescription opioid dependence among pregnant women in Tennessee. In the state, Medicaid covers buprenorphine but not methadone maintenance for managing opioid use disorders during pregnancy.

Read more:
http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/00952990.2015.1047502

National

U.S. Senators Want Methadone off Medicaid's Preferred Drug Lists
Lael Henterly, The Inlander
July 17, 2015

U.S. Senator Patty Murray and seven other senators wrote to the Medicare and Medicaid administrator, voicing concerns about methadone overprescribing. They hope to build on momentum gained as states have removed methadone from preferred drug lists.

Read more:
http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/07/17/us-senators-want-methadone-off-medicaids-preferred-drug-lists

Internet Prescription Drug Company Guilty of Dispensing Medication Without Prescriptions
Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Kentucky
July 22, 2015

The Internet-based Aracoma Drug Company in Kentucky pleaded guilty to dispensing prescription drugs without a valid prescription and agreed to forfeit $450,000 from illegal sales.

Read more:
http://www.justice.gov/usao-wdky/pr/internet-prescription-drug-company-guilty-dispensing-medication-without-prescriptions

Professional Video Game League to Begin PED Testing
Sports Illustrated
July 23, 2015

The Electronic Sports League will begin testing professional video gamers for performance-enhancing drugs at competitive events, after a team admitted to taking Adderall before a tournament. The league will also target education and prevention to competitors.

Read more:
http://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2015/07/23/professional-video-game-league-ped-testing-adderall

MARIJUANA

J.B. Hancock–Allen, L. Barker, M. VanDyke, and D.B. Holmes. 2015. "Notes from the Field: Death Following Ingestion of an Edible Marijuana Product—Colorado, March 2014." Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 64(28):771–72.

In March 2014, a 19-year-old Colorado man died after consuming an edible marijuana product. Initially he ate a single piece of his cookie, as directed by the sales clerk. Thirty to 60 minutes later, not feeling the effects, he consumed the rest. Over the next 2 hours, the man exhibited erratic speech and hostile behavior. About 3.5 hours after ingesting the cookie, he jumped off a fourth floor balcony and died from resulting trauma. The autopsy found marijuana intoxication to be the chief contributing factor. This was the first reported death in Colorado linked to "legal" recreational marijuana consumption without evidence of polysubstance use.

Read more:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6428a6.htm?s_cid=mm6428a6_w

Why Medical Marijuana Is Off to a Slow Start in MN
Time Nelson, Minnesota Public Radio
July 17, 2015

Only 183 people have registered for Minnesota's medical cannabis program, which began dispensing July 1. Fewer than 300 healthcare providers have registered and are authorized to certify patients. Once a provider confirms a patient suffers from one of nine qualifying conditions, he or she can access marijuana in pill or oil form at licensed pharmacies. Doctors do not prescribe the drug or approve its use. (Includes audio: 8:33 minutes)

Read more:
http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/07/17/medical-marijuana-minnesota

Blue Ribbon Panel: Pot Legalization in California Presents Tough Trade-Offs
Lisa Leff, Star Tribune
July 22, 2015

A California blue-ribbon panel on marijuana released a 93-page report that looks at a range of policy options facing the state. The panel said curtailing the illegal marijuana market in California—not developing another tax source—should be the primary goal of legalizing recreational use. California would need to determine how to structure licenses for growers and others in a way that allows existing small suppliers to participate, leads to legitimate jobs, and avoids becoming unwieldy. The regulatory system makes it hard for children to get the drug and discourages exports by limiting production to match in-state demand.

Read more:
http://www.startribune.com/report-pot-legalization-in-california-presents-trade-offs/318088631

AAA Researches Marijuana-Impaired Driving
Nicole Jupe, Quest Diagnostic
June 17, 2015

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is sponsoring two studies on drug-impaired driving. One assesses if marijuana-impaired driving in Washington has increased since the drug's legalization in 2012. The second examines crash severity in relation to the concentration of THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), the psychoactive chemical in marijuana. No standardized roadside test or legal standard indicates impairment due to marijuana use.

Read more:
http://blog.employersolutions.com/aaa-researches-marijuana-impaired-driving

Scams, More Scams, and Just Plain Frauds
National Families in Action, the Marijuana Report Newsletter
July 22, 2015

Internet scams surfaced after the Georgia Legislature passed House Bill 1, which legalized cannabidiol oil to treat intractable seizures and seven other illnesses. This article identifies some of the scammers. The MDHerb website claims to provide "educational content about cannabis to the everyday general consumer," offering subscribers bogus information about which marijuana strains cure which illnesses. MD-Marijuana Doctors invites users to find a certified physician on its "#1 Medical Marijuana Portal." A "certified physician" is not the patient's own doctor, who is the only legal prescriber under HB1.

Read more:
http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=2138d91b74dd79cbf58e302bf&id=45422bfe92&e=b63a9982f8

Hemp Used as New Pain Reliever for Pets
Lauren Pastrana, CBS Miami
July 21, 2015

Hemp products for pets are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The agency recently issued a warning to some manufacturers for marketing them. Dr. Lisa Moses, a veterinarian, says clients are asking her on a weekly basis if hemp supplements are effective. A dog owner used hemp biscuits, which contain cannabidiol, in the hopes of easing her dog's end-of-life pain. Another dog owner used cannabinoid supplements for her dog's seizures. (Includes video: 2:28 minutes)

Read more:
http://miami.cbslocal.com/2015/07/21/hemp-used-as-new-pain-reliever-for-pets

Detectives Find Marijuana Lip Balm During Drug Arrest
Amelia Arvesan, The Ottawa Herald
July 18, 2015

When detectives arrested a 28-year-old woman in Ottawa, Kan., they found lip balm that contained THC, which is absorbed through the skin to get high. Detectives also found hashish, wax, and edibles. Wax, a marijuana concentrate, is the purest form of cannabis.

Read more:
http://www.ottawaherald.com/news/local/detectives-find-marijuana-lip-balm-
during-drug-arrest/article_a1bfddbf-2471-55b0-b329-72e570e74478.html

Northeast/Mid-Atlantic News

Christie Signs Legislation Expanding Program to Curb 'Doctor Shopping' for Prescriptions
Dustin Racioppi, The Record
July 20, 2015

New Jersey's governor signed legislation requiring prescribers to register for and consult the prescription drug monitoring program before dispensing a Schedule II drug if there is reasonable belief a patient is seeking a drug for unintended use. The legislation also requires pharmacists to consult the database and submit identifying information daily on people who pick up a controlled substance prescription for someone else. The expansion takes effect this November.

Read more:
http://www.northjersey.com/news/christie-signs-legislation-expanding-program-to-curb-doctor-shopping-for-prescriptions-1.1377535

N.H.'s 'Drug Czar' Offers Recommendations to Tackle Opioid Crisis
Paige Sutherland, New Hampshire Public Radio
July 21, 2015

New Hampshire's drug czar released 22 recommendations on how the state can reduce its opioid problem, including re-authorizing Medicaid expansion, increasing drug courts, expanding treatment options, increasing access to Narcan®, developing best practices for prescribing opioids, and reviewing state oversight of pain clinics.

Read more:
http://nhpr.org/post/nhs-drug-czar-offers-recommendations-tackle-opioid-crisis

Methuen Police Launch Initiative to Offer Drug Addicts Helping Hand
Rachel Riley, The Boston Globe
July 18, 2015

The Methuen, Mass., police department plans to hire two outreach coordinators who will go door to door with officers to homes of drug users and their loved ones, offering personalized help to battle addiction. The coordinators will link drug users with detox and treatment centers, identify and educate addicts and their friends and families, and collaborate with other programs that offer services.

Read more:
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/07/18/methuen-police-launch-initiative-offer-drug-addicts-helping-hand/Rqwsw7P88c7aOxYBjuhVPM/story.html

Mass. Child Advocates Want to Screen Every Public School Student for Substance Use
Deborah Becker, WBUR
July 16, 2015

Child advocates in Massachusetts suggest screening every public school student for substance use and focusing on prevention as early as middle school to help curb the opioid epidemic. Substance use screening can be done by school nurses and takes less than a minute for students to complete. Each school district would determine the specifics about confidentiality, when to make referrals for treatment, and when to call parents. Eight Massachusetts schools are testing the screening process; seven more will test it this fall. Participating schools have learned that very few seventh to ninth graders have a serious substance misuse problem. Lawmakers are holding a hearing soon on a bill to take the program statewide. (Includes audio: 6:20 minutes)

Read more:
http://www.wbur.org/2015/07/16/mass-public-school-substance-use-screening

Boston Pitching Prospect Kopech Suspended for Stimulant Use
Fox Sports
July 16, 2015

Boston Red Sox pitcher Michael Kopech was suspended for 50 games after testing positive for the banned stimulant Oxilofrine. The suspension is the 69th this year under the minor league drug program.

Read more:
http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/boston-red-sox-michael-kopech-suspended-stimulant-oxilofrine-pitching-prospect-071615

Heroin Epidemic: State Lawmakers Want Changes to Narcan Laws
WGRZ
July 18, 2015

New York State Senator and Heroin Task Force co-chair Robert Ortt wants changes to the Good Samaritan Law, requiring addicts who receive Narcan to go to treatment. Ortt has asked for more law enforcement funding to catch drug dealers and restrictions to ensure doctors are not overprescribing. (Includes video: 2:47 minutes)

Read more:
http://www.wgrz.com/story/news/2015/07/17/wgrz-heroin-narcan/30333307

Southern News

Heroin Overdoses Nearly Quadruple in Lee, Collier
Frank Gluck, News-Press
July 21, 2015

Emergency rooms in Lee County, Fla., treated 121 heroin overdoses in 2014. Nearly half involved opiates or opiate-mimicking drugs. In 2013 this figure was 34; in 2009 it was 15. The vast majority of heroin overdose cases in Southwest Florida do not result in death.

Read more:
http://www.news-press.com/story/news/local/2015/07/20/heroin-overdoses-soar-southwest-florida-lee-memorial/30438033

Midwest News

Oakland Warns Health Experts of Prescription Drug Abuse
Mike Martindale, The Detroit News
July 21, 2015

Oakland County, Mich., will offer physician training this fall to curb misuse of pain relievers and prescription drugs among young people. The training program, conducted by Boston University School of Medicine, is designed to make professionals more aware of the problem and alternative forms of pain management. Its goal is to reach about 300 Michigan physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants at a session that will be videotaped and made available to others. A drug awareness campaign including bus ads will supplement the effort.

Read more:
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/oakland-county/2015/07/21/
oakland-county-warns-prescription-drug-abuse/30474787


Health Department Looks to Fight IV Drug Abuse
Ellie Bogue, The News-Sentinel
July 21, 2015

Allen County's Health Commissioner is worried illegal opiate use could lead to an HIV/hepatitis C outbreak in Southern Indiana. To prevent an outbreak, the health department is designing a free needle-exchange program. The department has also developed a brief curriculum to educate students about the dangers of using heroin and prescription drugs.

Read more:
http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20150721/NEWS/150729951

Madison Police Save Three People in Five Days from Opiate Overdose
Gordon Severson, WKOW
July 23, 2015

In just 5 days, Madison, Wis., police used naloxone to save three people from overdosing on opiates. (Includes video: 2:14 minutes)

Read more:
http://www.wkow.com/story/29611338/2015/07/22/madison-police-save-three-people-in-five-days-from-opiate-overdose

Columbia Area Legislators Express Support for Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
Abigail Keel, KBIA
July 22, 2015

Missouri State Representatives Basye, Jones, Kendrick, and Rowden attended a legislative summit that focused on youth issues and was hosted by the Youth Advisory Council and Youth Community Coalition. The representatives will support a bill to establish a prescription drug monitoring program if one comes before the General Assembly next session.

Read more:
http://kbia.org/post/columbia-area-legislators-express-support-prescription-drug-monitoring-program

Naloxone Kits Offered to Combat Overdose Deaths
Erica Lagatta, Zanesville Times Recorder
July 18, 2015

Muskingum County, Ohio, officials are training residents to administer naloxone and distributing 50 kits from Project Dawn.

Read more:
http://www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com/story/news/local/2015/07/18/naloxone-kits-offered-combat-overdose-deaths/30356215

West News

Colorado Public Health Officials Pushing Overdose Antidote Naloxone
Electa Draper, The Denver Post
July 20, 2015

In May, the Colorado legislature passed a law allowing doctors to prescribe naloxone to family members and loved ones of drug addicts. Now public health officials are promoting naloxone use. Some clinicians are hesitant to prescribe naloxone for fear of offending patients or encouraging riskier behavior with narcotics.

Read more:
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_28508087/colorado-public-health-officials-pushing-overdose-antidote-naloxone

New State Regulations Slow Access to Life Saving Overdose Drug
Margaret Wright, The Santa Fe New Mexican
July 20, 2015

The New Mexico Department of Health is revising its rules on naloxone prescribing. Efforts to increase naloxone access were hampered by the rules, which required direct consultation with a specified prescriber—either a nurse or physician. Santa Fe's Interfaith Community Shelter, the Santa Fe Recovery Center, and the public health outreach van that circulates Northern New Mexico temporarily halted naloxone dispensing.

Read more:
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/new-rules-slow-access-
to-life-saving-overdose-drug/article_1b437dc1-7f93-541f-9190-c4c7f0306d29.html

Other Resources

10 Things to Know About Prescription Opioid Abuse in the United States
Mary Rechtoris, Becker's Spine Review
July 20, 2015

This article discusses 10 things people should know about opioid misuse. The facts include 1) Opioids are often considered a gateway to other drugs including heroin; 2) Approximately 2.1 million people misuse opioids; and 3) Orthopedic surgeons are the third-highest opioid prescribers.

Read more:
http://www.beckersspine.com/pain/item/26359-10-things-to-know-about-prescription-opioid-abuse-in-the-united-states.html

Webinars

Strategies to Address Opioid and Prescription Drug Misuse Series
Addiction Technology Transfer Center
Learning Series schedule: 1:30–2:30 p.m. EDT
August 5: Appropriate Opioid Prescribing
August 12: Treating Opioid Addiction
August 19: Opioid Overdose Intervention and Drug Disposal Strategies
http://www.auch.org/news-and-updates/item/384-strategies-to-address-opioid-prescription-drug-misuse-learning-series

Grant Award

Prevention Partners Awarded $130,000 of $12.4 Million Statewide Grant
The Chester Telegraph
July 20, 2015

Windsor County Prevention Partners was awarded $130,000 from a $12.4 million federal grant to help reduce prescription drug misuse, marijuana use, and underage drinking among Vermont residents ages 12–25.

Read more:
http://chestertelegraph.org/2015/07/20/prevention-partners-awarded-130000-of-12-4-million-statewide-grant

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie: Syracuse Hospital Gets $400,000 for Heroin Abuse Prevention
Robert Harding, Auburn Citizen
July 22, 2015

Crouse Hospital will receive $400,000 from New York's 2015–16 budget for heroin and opiate abuse prevention and treatment programs.

Read more:
http://auburnpub.com/blogs/eye_on_ny/assembly-speaker-carl-heastie-syracuse-
hospital-gets-for-heroin-abuse/article_f6ef8afa-2fdc-11e5-8709-af4b8990fc65.html

Grant Announcement

Partnership for Clean Competition
Pre-applications due March 1, July 1, and November 1
Full applications due April 1, August 1, and December 1
http://www.cleancompetition.org/Pages/programs-grants.aspx

2015 Healthy Living Grant Program
American Medical Association
Deadline: September 11, 2015, 5 p.m. CT
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/about-ama/ama-foundation/our-programs/public-health/healthy-living-grants.page?

National Take-Back Initiative

National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day
Drug Enforcement Administration
September 26, 2015, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Various locations nationwide
http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback

Take-Back Events and Drop Boxes

Yorktown Sheds Over 150 Lbs. of Prescription Drugs at Murphy Drop-Off Event
Terrence P. Murphy, New York State Senator
July 23, 2015
http://www.nysenate.gov/press-release/yorktown-sheds-over-150-lbs-prescription-drugs-murphy-drop-event

Industry Jumps on Board Needle, Prescription Drugs Disposal Program
Dave Stewart, The Guardian (Quebec, Canada)
July 22, 2015
http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/News/Local/2015-07-22/article-4222713/Industry-
jumps-on-board-needle,-prescription-drugs-disposal-program/1


Seabrook Will Soon Incinerate Legal, Illegal Drugs
AngelJean Chiaramida, Daily News (Massachusetts)
July 22, 2015
http://www.newburyportnews.com/news/local_news/seabrook-will-
soon-incinerate-legal-illegal-drugs/article_7621df7b-a277-5dbb-9972-b94fba3ed85b.html


Prescription Drug Abuse at All Time High, Drop Boxes Set Up in Ionia County
Kelsey Keifer, WLNS (Michigan)
July 24, 2015
http://wlns.com/2015/07/24/prescription-drug-abuse-at-all-time-high-drop-boxes-set-up-in-ionia-county

Prescription Drug Drop-Off Box to Be Placed in Municipal Center
Chris Graham, Orchard Park Bee (New York)
July 23, 2015
http://www.orchardparkbee.com/news/2015-07-23/Front_Page/Prescription
_drug_dropoff_box_to_be_placed_in_Muni.html


PD's Pill Dropbox Popular
Neita Cecil, The Dalles Chronicle (Oregon)
July 23, 2015
http://www.thedalleschronicle.com/news/2015/jul/23/pds-pill-dropbox-popular/#

Prescription Drug Drop Box
Central Point Police Department (Oregon)
Accessed July 24, 2015
http://www.centralpointoregon.gov/police/page/prescription-drug-drop-box

Snyder County DA Partners with National Guard for Drug Disposal
The Daily Item (Pennsylvania)
July 24, 2015
http://www.dailyitem.com/news/local_news/snyder-county-da-partners-with-national-guard-for-drug-disposal/article_ced5113c-3209-11e5-9b2f-eb2301c2e37a.html

Safely Store, Dispose of Medicines to Guard Against Theft, Misuse
Lisa Warren, The Greenville Sun (Tennessee)
July 20, 2015
http://www.greenevillesun.com/features/health/safely-store-dispose-of-medicines-
to-guard-against-theft-misuse/article_ba6f3928-0f6a-5f8f-aabd-4354d400adc1.html

Upcoming Conferences and Workshops

Mid-Year Training Institute
Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America
August 2–6, 2015
Indianapolis, Indiana
http://www.cadca.org/myti

Register:
http://www.cadca.org/events/14th-annual-mid-year-training-institute-0/registration

Drug Testing Advisory Board (DTAB) Meeting
SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Prevention
August 7, 2015, 9–11:30 a.m. EDT
Attend via Web conference (see registration link below) or in person
Sugarloaf Conference Room
SAMHSA Building
1 Choke Cherry Road
Rockville, Maryland

This Web-accessible meeting will include updates on the status of proposed revisions to the Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs (urine/oral fluid) and the Request for Information (hair), review of public comments on proposed revisions to the Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs (urine/oral fluid), review of public comments on the Request for Information (hair), and DTAB's process for evaluating the scientific supportability of alternate specimens for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs. Registration is required, and public comments are welcome.

To register, obtain the Web conference call-in numbers and access codes, submit written or brief oral comments, or request special accommodations for persons with disabilities: http://nac.samhsa.gov/Registration/meetingsRegistration.aspx

Agenda:
http://www.samhsa.gov/about-us/advisory-councils/drug-testing-advisory-board-dtab

Federal Register notice:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-07-21/pdf/2015-17818.pdf

Prescription Drug and Heroin Conference
Berrien Community Foundation
August 28, 2015
St. Joseph, Michigan 49085
http://www.berriencommunity.org/hope

SCOPE of Pain Training
Oakland County Prescription Drug Abuse Partnership
October 3, 2015, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Oakland Schools
2111 Pontiac Lake Rd
Waterford, Michigan

Safe and Competent Opioid Prescribing Education (SCOPE) of Pain training is designed to help Michigan physicians safely and effectively manage patients with chronic pain—when appropriate—with opioid pain relievers. The training will cover essential clinical content on opioid prescribing as well as state-specific information, including a policy and resource panel with representatives from state and local agencies.

Read more:
https://www.oakgov.com/health/partnerships/Pages/Oakland-County-Prescription-Drug-Abuse-Partnership.aspx#1

Register:
https://www.scopeofpain.com/in-person-training/index.php?event=145

143rd Annual Meeting and Exposition—'Health in All Policies'
American Public Health Association
October 31 to November 4, 2015
McCormick Place
2301 S. Martin Luther King Drive
Chicago, Illinois

At this annual conference, public health professionals convene, learn, network, and engage with peers. The meeting strengthens the public health profession, shares research and information, promotes best practices, and promotes public health issues and policies grounded in research.

Read more:
https://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual

Register:
https://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual/registration-information

University of Michigan Injury Center Prescription Drug Overdose Summit
University of Michigan Injury Center
November 9, 2015
Ann Arbor, Michigan
http://www.injurycenter.umich.edu/conferences/opioid-overdose-summit

2015 Fall Research Conference: The Golden Age of Evidence-Based Policy
Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management
November 12–14, 2015
Hyatt Regency Miami
400 South East Second Ave
Miami, Florida

This multidisciplinary annual research conference attracts the highest quality research on a wide variety of important current and emerging policy and management issues. The conference comprises panels, roundtables, symposia, and poster presentations from 14 policy areas. It is designed to encourage substantive interaction among participants.

Read more:
http://www.appam.org/events/fall-research-conference/2015-fall-research-conference-information

Register:
http://www.appam.org/events/fall-research-conference/2015-fall-conference-registration

28th Annual National Prevention Network Conference: Bridging Research to Practice
National Prevention Network
November 17–19, 2015
Seattle, Washington
http://www.npnconference.org

Register:
http://www.npnconference.org/registration

2016 National Rx Drug Summit
March 28–31, 2016
The Westin Peachtree Plaza
Atlanta, Georgia
http://nationalrxdrugabusesummit.org
The Weekly Update is a service provided by the SAMHSA Preventing Prescription Abuse in the Workplace Technical Assistance Center (PAW) to keep the field abreast of recent news and journal articles to assist in forming policy, research, and programs to reduce prescription drug misuse or abuse. Please note, the materials listed are not reflective of SAMHSA's or PAW's viewpoint or opinion and are not assessed for validity, reliability or quality. The Weekly Update should not be considered an endorsement of the findings. Readers are cautioned not to act on the results of single studies, but rather to seek bodies of evidence. Copyright considerations prevent PAW from providing full text of journal articles listed in the Weekly Update.