Opioid response teams to deploy across Oklahoma

(OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.) Every month, 32 Oklahomans die from an unintentional prescription opioid overdose. To help communities strengthen their response to the ongoing opioid overdose problem, the Oklahoma State Department of Health has contracted with the Center for Wellness and Recovery at the Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences to implement a new approach focused on increasing prevention efforts. This summer, opioid response teams will deploy to four high-burden communities to identify high-risk patients and guide them and their families to information and treatment designed to prevent an opioid overdose. Education and training for clinicians and other community stakeholders on treating and managing patients with pain and/or substance use disorder will also be offered. These community events are free and open to the public. Each week-long event will include a town hall, workshops, health screenings, seminars, activities for children, and documentary showings. There will also be specialized training, accredited lectures, and continuing education credits available for a wide variety of professional audiences, such as health care providers, law enforcement officers, legal professionals, counselors, and social workers. • McAlester -- July 10-16 McAlester Expo Center • Tahlequah -- July 22-28 Cherokee County Community Building • Duncan -- August 2-8 The Simmons Center • Ardmore -- August 12-18 Ardmore Convention Center To view event schedules and register to attend, go to health.okstate.edu/cwr. For more information on prescription opioid overdose prevention, contact (405) 271-3430 or visit http://poison.health.ok.gov. For help finding treatment referrals, call 211. To report illegal distribution or diversion of prescription drugs, call the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control at 1-800-522-8031.