National Sponsors
March 8, 2016 Lassen County Times | ![]() |
©
Lassen County Times. All rights reserved. Upgrade to access Premium Tools
PAGE 21 (21 of 30 available) PREVIOUS NEXT Jumbo Image Save To Scrapbook Set Notifiers PDF JPG
March 8, 2016 |
|
Website © 2025. All content copyrighted. Copyright Information Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Request Content Removal | About / FAQ | Get Acrobat Reader ![]() |
Lassen County Times, Westwood PinePress
Tuesday, March 8, 2016 78
Lassen County agencies are participating with
Coalition. Graphics submitted
Lassen County agencies
are participating with
Plumas, Sierra and Modoc in
the development of the
Northern Sierra Opioid
Safety Coalition.
The Northern Sierra
Opioid Safety Coalition is
committed to reducing
oPioids prescribed in Lassen
County by 15 percent over
the next three years.
The coalition is dedicated
to making meaningful
change in the practice of
opioid overuse and abuse in
our community. The
coalition is dedicated to the
ensuring providers receive
continuing education on safe
prescribing procedures and
Coalition aims
Delaine Fragnoli
Staff Writer
.dfragnoli@plumasnews.com
It's not often that Plumas
ranks number one in
anything. But the disturbing
reality is that from 2008 to
2012, the county had the
highest death rate in the
state from prescription
opioid overdoses.
In 2013, Plumas had the
highest rate of opioid-related
emergency visits: 63 per
100,000, far ahead of number-
two Humboldt County, at 43
per 100,000.
The Plumas County Public
Health Agency calls the
misuse of opioids "an
epidemic."
Funded by a grant, the
agency is leading a four-
county coalition, called the
Northern Sierra Opioid
Safety Coalition, to tackle
the problem head on. In
addition to Plumas, the
coalition includes Lassen,
Sierra and Modoc counties.
Information on this issue
from the Lassen County
Public Health Department
was not available at deadline.
Representatives from the
four counties met with other
healthcare partners in late
January for a kick-off
meeting. Since then, the;
group has divided into three
action teams, which will
meet monthly as the effort
moves forward, according to
James Wilson, a health
education specialist for
Plumas County.
Each action team focuses
on a proven intervention
strategy: promoting safe
prescribing practices;
increasing access to
medication-assisted
addiction treatment; and
increasing access to
Naloxone, a life-saving opi0id
blocker that reverses the
effects of an overdose.
"There is no question, you
will save lives," said Dr. Matt
Willis, a guest speaker at the
kickoff. The three-prong
approach is "super high
yield."
J
Plumas, Sierra and Modoc in the development of the Northern Sierra Opioid Safety
alternative treatment
resources.
Lassen County is
simultaneously collaborating
with many community
agencies in the newly
developed Lassen Healthcare
Collaborative in coordination
with Partnership Healthplan
of California to identify and
address health disparities
faced by Lassen County
residents.
Between the coordinated
efforts of both groups, it is
anticipated a noticeable
improvement in our
community's ability to
ensure safe practices iri pain
management.
to save lives
Average l
'Lassen
That's enough opiolds for ......... :
every man, woman and
tO medicate themselves
around the clock for ~!~ ~2:~
weeks each year. ~z