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Recovery Reinvented: What is Happening with Opioids?

Posted 10/02/17 (Mon)

A Message from NDMA Director Courtney Koebele

Recovery Reinvented was hosted on Tuesday, Sept. 26 by ND Governor Burgum and First Lady Kathryn Burgum. The event brought together state and national experts to share practices that can advance addiction recovery and prevention efforts.

Prior to the event taking place, it was a priority for the governor’s office to fully understand what practices for opioid use were already in place. NDMA Executive Director Courtney Koebele participated in meetings to help educate ND government agencies on effective systems already in place to help prevent opioid addiction and overdose. The meetings included discussions with Governor Burgum, including ND Health Officer MyLynn Tufte and other staff members. Koebele also met with other state agencies and associations such as the ND Hospital Association, ND Dept. of Human Services, ND Board of Medicine, ND Board of Pharmacy, and with ND Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem.

 For several years now, NDMA has been working with North Dakota organizations, hospitals and licensing boards to establish systems that can further reduce opioid addiction.

Some efforts recently introduced and considered best practice approaches to opioid addiction prevention include:

• Increased Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) participation among prescribers. Registrations increased 56% from 2014 to 2017.
• Supported changes in the PDMP threshold alerts: reducing alert levels of six to levels of three.
• Expanded CME opportunities for physicians to help further educate on opioid addiction and prevention.
• Supported Board of Medicine proposed rules on PDMP use.

Thursday’s event also included the release of an Executive Order by Governor Burgum. The Executive order focuses on making improvements at the state agency level. It requires review of internal policies and procedures relating to the use and administration of naloxone; to review internal policies and licensing standards for substance use facilities for naloxone; and to assist state, tribal and local law enforcement agencies to develop naloxone education and training programs.

The leadership at NDMA will continue to be proactive in educating physicians on opioid prescribing and addiction prevention.