Montana communities have been devastated by the continuous increase of deaths caused by opioid overdose. According to the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, approximately 35% of all drug overdose deaths in Montana are attributable to opioids.
In response to this crisis, the Montana Public Health Institute and other state healthcare agencies have implemented several statewide opioid abuse prevention programs and harm reduction strategies. They have also worked to ensure treatment and recovery resources are accessible to the right people in the right locations across the state.
The goal of these measures is to meet people where they are and improve their health outcomes.
Prevention, education and responsible pain management
It starts with prevention through widespread education covering proper use and disposal of opioid prescriptions. Education addressing and reducing the effect of risk factors and social determinants on populations especially vulnerable to opioid misuse is important as well. Promoting mental wellness and rational pain management and controlling access also play a part in stopping opioid misuse before it happens.
Long-term opioid use changes the brain
Another key component in responding to the opioid epidemic is helping the public understand that opioid addiction and opioid use disorder are chronic conditions of the brain. Long-term opioid misuse changes the brain’s reward system, which triggers biological and compulsive behavioral responses to opioids. It can also alter a person’s frontal cortex, the part of the brain that controls impulse and judgment, making it difficult to stop opioid misuse despite the harmful consequences.
Stop the stigma
People who are living with opioid use disorder are not simply “weak” or “bad.” Many people suffering from these disorders have loved ones struggling in silence due to fear of how they would be perceived within their community if they spoke about it. Removing the stigma and raising awareness about opioid addiction can lead to an increase in screening opportunities and subsequent treatment for those battling addiction.
Know how to save a life
For Montanans currently living with opioid addiction, naloxone can be a life-saving medication. Opioid receptors in the brain are located in proximity to the part of the brain responsible for regulating breathing. When an overdose occurs, the brain gets overwhelmed by the drug, interrupting the body’s natural drive to breathe. By blocking the effects of opioids on the brain and restoring breathing, naloxone is a safe and effective medication to reverse the effects of a suspected opioid-related overdose.
Through regional Opioid Education and Naloxone Distribution Programs, the Montana Public Health Institute is working to make naloxone easily accessible.
Instructions for how to properly administer naloxone are included in each package along with the medication. Formal training is available through Best Practice Medicine under the guidance of the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. A person who receives naloxone should be taken to an emergency medical facility immediately for further care.
For more information about Montana’s response to the opioid crisis, visit TogetherWeCanMT.com today.
