An opioid turning point: Hope is in the air

A report from the Center of Disease Control and Prevention last week stated that drug overdose deaths have declined for the first time in nearly three decades. ( Wall Street Journal) Here’s hoping the opioid scourge that has taken hundreds of thousand of lives and many Alaskan’s lives is finally abating.

Drug overdose deaths fell 4.1% in 2018 due to fewer fatalities from prescription opioids, according to the CDC. Even though overdose deaths fell from oxycodone, hydrocodone and heroin these declines were offset by a 10% increase of overdoses from synthetic Fentanyl. Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more powerful than morphine.

Alaska was one of the states listed that had a significant reduction in opioid overdose deaths. It is good news we are turning the corner regarding overdoses from prescription opioids and heroin. Yet, besides Fentanyl, there has been a surge in Meth and Cocaine in Alaska.

In fact, last month, the CDC stated you can divide the United States using the Mississippi River and there is distinct difference in causes of overdoses. East of the Mississippi the majority of overdoses are due to Fentanyl and the West is Meth and Cocaine.

Unfortunately, Alaska is following the Western trend of Meth and Cocaine becoming the drug of choice with an increase of overdoses due specifically to those two drugs.

Even with that data, I believe it is important to acknowledge all the hard work that went into turning the tide on the opioid epidemic, specifically fewer fatalities from opioid prescriptions and heroin.

First, I want to thank our Federal representation that understands that the opioid epidemic is a non-partisan issue and it has affected 1 out of 3 Alaskans. Thank you for your support.

I want to acknowledge the past administration with creating the Office of Substance Misuse and Addiction and Prevention and developing the Statewide Opioid Action Plan. This plan had 14 different grassroots community cafe’ events across the state for vital feedback from Alaskans.

And, in addition there was the creation of ‘Project Hope.’ Project Hope delivered and provided the life saving antidote to an opioid overdose, Narcan. ( Naloxone) These handy antidote kits ( over 9,000) were assembled in many places for Alaskans to carry and be ready to administer if the situation presented itself. The good news is over 350 people in Alaska have been revived by Narcan. I hope and pray many of them sought treatment and are in recovery.

Also, over 33,000 Medication Disposal Bags have been distributed across the state. These bags are an easy and safe way to discard unused opioids. There have been over 2 million pain pills that have been safely discarded. We have to remember, pain pills have the same shelf life as Twinkies, forever! Please be aware that pain pills can be easily stolen and sold on the street.

Another effective strategy was the creation of the Alaska Prescription Drug Monitoring Program that identifies fraudulent seeking (frequent flyers) people in their attempts to obtain more than their prescribed pain pill dose. There are more than 7,000 providers that are registered with the PDMP to assist in providing accurate information regarding pain prescriptions.

The Alaska Prescription Drug Monitoring Program was part of former Governor Walker’s Opioid Law, along with a seven day initial pain pill limit. Yet, there were medical waivers for cancer patients and palliative care with a focus on quality of life.

We have to acknowledge all the different Law Enforcement agencies that investigate drug trafficking and perform drug seizures. According to the Alaska Opioid Data Dashboard, there have been over 2,500 drug seizures in the last eleven months.

In addition, the Alaska National Guard Counter-Drug Support Program, which is combined with both Army and Air National Guard, have been involved in combating the opioid crisis. Thank you for your service.

On the treatment side of the equation, there have been almost a hundred ‘Therapeutic Court’ referrals for those wanting to change their lives with the courts monitoring their progress. I want to personally thank Governors, Commissioners and staff from Alaska Health and Social Services, providers, law enforcement, military, judges and also coalitions, task forces, and non-profits all being part of the good fight. We are all stakeholders. With 1 out 3 Alaskans having been affected by the opioid epidemic, almost no one has escaped this crisis.

In addition, I want to thank the current state administration for their continued efforts in keeping all the strategies listed, continuing and especially building more capacity for those seeking treatment and recovery in a timely matter.

As the surge of Meth and Cocaine make their mark in Alaska, I believe we will be able to meet that challenge as we have shown with the opioid epidemic. The good fight continues. And, if you are interested in joining that good fight, all are welcome to attend the Mat-Su Opioid Task Force’s first Tuesday of the month meetings. We meet from 4 to 6 p.m. at Wasilla City Hall.

This March, we will have speakers addressing programs in the Mat-Su related to opioid misuse and prevention. Then, in April, we are hoping to have a presentation from the Department of Corrections, from both administration and medical staff. Again, all are welcome. Hope is in the air.

Michael P. Carson is the V.P. & Recovery Specialist at MyHouse of Mat-Su and Chair of the Mat-Su Opioid Task Force