National Fentanyl Awareness Day May 10, 2022
The first ever National Fentanyl Awareness Day launches tomorrow, Tuesday, May 10, 2022. The purpose is to raise public awareness about the growing fentanyl public health crisis. People are dying at alarming rates due to illegally made fentanyl, a dangerous synthetic opioid. Founded by parents who have lost loved ones to the drug overdose epidemic, National Fentanyl Awareness Day is supported by a group of subject matter experts, corporations, nonprofits, schools, families, and elected officials who are coming together to amplify the issue via social media. The date was purposely set during Mental Health Awareness Month to amplify the warning message about self-medication at a time when counterfeit pills have flooded the illicit drug market. The goal is to leverage as many organizations and communication channels as possible to reach the most vulnerable demographics.
Learn more:
SENATE RESOLUTION DESIGNATES MAY 10 AS NATIONAL FENTANYL AWARENESS DAY
Interview with Dr. Renee Higgins, COO, Administrator, Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office
What year did you start with the county Health Care Agency and what was your role?
In January 2013, I started working for the County’s Health Care Agency as the Chief Hospital Operations (CHO) for the Ambulatory Care department. My role, along with my fellow (CHO) colleague, was to oversee the operations of the county’s vast clinic system. At the time, this included public private partnership clinics which were Federally Qualified Health Centers, Specialty clinics and county campus clinics onsite at Ventura County Medical Center.
Did you come to the agency from the private sector?
Yes, I worked in the private sector as a health care administrator for many years prior to becoming a public servant. I worked in the fields of elder care, home health, home care and medical transportation. Becoming a public servant was something that I had desired to do for many years.
How (and when) did you transition to the MEO, and describe your role?
I started working for the MEO in 2015, in tandem with my role in Ambulatory Care for three years. I eventually came to work fulltime at the MEO in 2018. My current role is Chief Operating Officer for the Medical Examiner’s Office.
What’s the most gratifying part of your work?
There are many gratifying parts of my job. Being a leader in this agency is both challenging and rewarding. I was able to be a part of the counties inaugural LEAP program (Trailblazers) which honed my Servant leadership style and better prepared me to face the challenges and sorrows that the MEO faces every day. I honestly enjoy coming to work each day and being a part of a team that cares so much about their jobs. Our team has integrity and strength. People do not necessarily want to encounter our office; we interact with individuals on the worst days of their lives. If I can help a family member either directly or indirectly, in some way during this time of grief, it is very gratifying.
What are your observations about the increase in overdose deaths in your time with the MEO?
Out of the four manners of death: Natural, Accident, Suicide and Homicide, I recall when natural deaths accounted for most of the deaths in our jurisdiction annually. This has been replaced by Accidental deaths mainly due to the opioid crisis. I recall when the drug fentanyl was a problem on the periphery of our county, but we knew it was coming. The good thing is, we had the COAST and Rx Drug and Heroin Work Group teams already in place to help combat this dangerous drug when it hit our county. These collaborative teams led by Behavioral Health and composed of many partners, have been key in strategizing prevention initiatives to combat this crisis. A few observations are that the opioid crisis does not discriminate. It crosses all socioeconomic, race and ethnic lines. Also, the drug fentanyl can come in many forms, our Chief Medical Examiner called it “the great imitator” thus, a person taking the drug may not even be aware of it. Very concerning.
What would you like people to know about the work done at the MEO? What might surprise people?
For one thing, our work helps the living. The findings learned from the work of our investigators and forensic pathologists can contribute to public health questions and offer insight into medical practice and specific disease processes that otherwise would not be explored. A wealth of data is generated by our office. We were selected along with five other counties in the state to partner with CDPH to provide data on violent deaths as well as overdose deaths in real time. This data is sent to the state within 30 days of death. This helps to provide information that can be analyzed earlier to see trends and plan prevention strategies. In order to prevent deaths in our county, we have to accurately identify what is causing the deaths.
Anything else you’d like to share?
I am honored to work for the County of Ventura and more specifically the Medical Examiner’s Office. I recently was sworn into the California State Coroner’s Association as a board member. Although Ventura County is only one of six Medical Examiner systems in our state of 58 counties, this board represents all three types of forensic death investigation offices: Medical Examiner, Coroner, and Sheriff/Coroner. Working together to ensure best practices and representing the ME systems in our state is an honor.
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day - April 30, 2022 – 10AM to 2PM
The drug overdose epidemic in the United States is a clear and present public health, public safety, and national security threat. DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day reflects DEA’s commitment to Americans’ safety and health, encouraging the public to remove unneeded medications from their homes as a measure of preventing medication misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting.
In Ventura County, more than 200 people die each year from opioid overdoses. Prescription painkiller abuse, rising heroin use, fentanyl and accidental opioid overdoses are part of a nationwide crisis.
Ventura County is actively engaged and committed to preventing prescription drug misuse and abuse. One of the ways the County works to address the issue locally is by reducing access, especially to teens. The Ventura County Sheriff's Office (VCSO), in collaboration with Ventura County Behavioral Health (VCBH), established a countywide Rx disposal program that allows residents to safely dispose of unused, unwanted, or expired Rx medication via secure, confidential disposal bins. Learn the signs of overdose and how to take action. Find Disposal Bin locations near you.
Learn more:
Prescribers Care Discussion Series
Prescribers are key to creating change in our community.
Thanks to exceptional local collaboration, Ventura County has seen a decrease in opioid prescribing in recent years – a 24% reduction between 2017 and 2020 – as providers have employed safe prescribing practices and increased use of non-narcotic pain management strategies.
Unfortunately, overdose deaths continue to climb, largely due to illegal fentanyl, which has replaced much of the local heroin use and is contributing to the rising number of overdose emergencies. As a concerned local provider, we invite you to join the Prescriber Discussion Series:
- Hear from local experts and discuss with peers the latest trends and best practices.
- Get provider-focused resources to reduce misuse and opioid use disorder (OUD).
- Learn the new State guidelines and latest tools for patient care and provider coordination.
Connecting because we care. For our patients and for our community.
LEARN MORE AND REGISTER
May 11, 2022
LATEST TRENDS IN OVERDOSE: WHAT PRESCRIBERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ILLICIT FENTANYL
5:30–7:30 PM
Sterling Hills Golf Club, Camarillo
The CDC estimates that up to 83% of opioid overdose deaths in 2020 involved synthetic opioids. Join the discussion with other local medical leaders on what this means for local communities. Prescribers are key to preventing opioid misuse by patients that can progress to an opioid use disorder (OUD), illicit fentanyl use and subsequent death. If you are dedicated to improving health outcomes and patient well-being, please join the discussion.
Note: This session includes local law enforcement data on current illicit drug trends, terminology, and access, as well as provider tips for effectively communicating with patients at risk of opioid misuse or overdose.
PRESENTED BY
- Chris Young, MD, Ventura County Chief Medical Examiner
- Tipu V. Khan, MD, FAAFP, FASAM; Addiction Medicine Fellowship Director, VCMC
- Sergeant John Hajducko, Ventura County Sheriff’s Department
For more information: Ashley.Nettles@ventura.org
UPCOMING DISCUSSIONS IN THE SERIES
- June 8, 2022, 5:30–7:30 PM
Evidence-based Safe Prescribing
- August 31, 2022, 5:30 7:30 PM
Deprescribing is Good Prescribing
- September 21, 2022 • 5:30-7:30pm
Person-Centered Strategies to Reduce Opioid Overdose
Suicides by drug overdose increased among young people, elderly people, and Black women, despite overall downward trend.
A NIDA study of intentional drug overdose deaths, or suicides by an overdose of a medication or drug, found an overall decline in recent years in the U.S., but an increase in young people aged 15-24, older people aged 75-84, and non-Hispanic Black women. The study also found that women were consistently more likely than men to die from intentional drug overdoses, with the highest rates observed in women ages 45 to 64.
“The distinction between accidental and intentional overdose has important clinical implications, as we must implement strategies for preventing both,” said Nora Volkow, M.D., senior author on the study and director of NIDA. “To do so requires that we screen for suicidality among individuals who use opioids or other drugs, and that we provide treatment and support for those who need it, both for mental illnesses and for substance use disorders.”
Learn more:
NIDA. 2022, February 2. Suicides by drug overdose increased among young people, elderly people, and Black women, despite overall downward trend.