- Lake County News reports
- Posted On
Nov. 3 meeting to look at prescription drug misuse, abuse
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The community is coming together to fight prescription drug misuse and abuse in Lake County.
On Tuesday, Nov. 3, a coalition of doctors, hospitals, clinics, schools, law enforcement and others will come together to begin addressing the problem of prescription drug misuse.
The death rate for prescription drug overdose in Lake County is four times the state average, now exceeding deaths due to traffic accidents and gunshot wounds. Nationally, this problem has been referred to as the “opioid epidemic.”
“While the use of opioid pain medications is essential to manage pain for injuries or after a surgery, there is now conclusive evidence that long-term use of opioid medications are not effective for chronic pain and can do more harm than good,” said Dr. Karen Tait, public health officer for Lake County.
Dr. Tait is leading the local effort in Lake County to take a community approach to address the problem by working with doctors to adopt consistent prescribing guidelines, educate their patients about both the risks and benefits of opioid use and raise the awareness of the public about safer alternatives to treat chronic pain.
The conference on Tuesday is a first big step to work invite the community to join this effort.
Dr. Matt Willis, public health officer from Marin County, will be the keynote speaker at the event, explaining how other counties have organized to reduce dependence and misuse.
“Should an opioid be prescribed? If so, what is a safe dosage?” Willis said. “What is the best way to guard against dependence? What non-opioid treatments should be considered? These are questions every clinician should be asking.”
Operating under the umbrella structure of Hope Rising, Lake County, a $60,000 grant was recently awarded to the Project by the California HealthCare Foundation.
The effort in Lake County, led by Dr. Tait, is one of 10 communities in the state to receive these funds.
“We want to protect our community and especially our children, from prescription drug misuse, explained Shelly Mascari, director of Community Health with Adventist Health Care and Chair of the Hope Rising, Lake County effort. “Pills can inadvertently get into the hands of our youth who are unaware of the dangers. We want safe prescribing and to save lives.”