CHIP: SafeRx - Campaign for Responsible Prescriptions

▪ Prescribers and Dispensers: Register for E-Forcse, Florida's Prescription Drug
Monitoring Database
▪ Videos: Webinar and Panel Discussion
"Addressing Prescription Pain Medicine Abuse & Misuse"

Prescription drug abuse - a bitter pill for Florida
Prescription drug abuse has been described as the most threatening substance abuse issue in the State of Florida. The number of deaths caused by at least one prescription drug increased 102% between 2003 and 2009. This translates to 7 Floridian deaths per day.

SafeRx - a regional response
On January 31st, 2011, hospital CEOs and health department directors from Sarasota, Charlotte, DeSoto and Manatee Counties publicly signed a proclamation clarifying their collective commitment to work together to address prescription drug misuse in 2011. This event followed months of collaborative work on behalf of these organizations to identify key strategies to impact this issue, including:

Providing local data about the prescription drug epidemic in our region
- Regional Data Summary [Version 2.1, updated 2-1-11]
- Sarasota County Epi-Gram
- Manatee County EpiGram
- Drugs Identified in Deceased Persons by Florida Medical Examiners
Increasing awareness of safe storage and disposal of prescription drugs
- Flyer: Safe Disposal / Home Inventory (download & printed)
  Printed copies are available for your medical office or pharmacy. >Request
- For information on prescription drug drop-off days, see local substance abuse coalitions:

Providing training opportunities to medical professionals

Addressing Prescription Pain Medication Abuse & Misuse: A Framework for Safe Prescribing - held April 26-29 for prescribers/dispensers

Event Flyer [500KB PDF]
News Release [45KB PDF]

VIDEOS: [Click to watch on YouTube]


Webinar (Addressing Prescription Pain Medicine Abuse & Misuse: A Framework for Safe Prescribing)	Panel Discussion

Tools

Complementing county-level plans implemented by area substance abuse coalitions, this regional approach reflects the unique roles and opportunities that our healthcare providers and health departments have in addressing the issue. Representatives from the participating 12 hospitals and 4 health departments are continuing to convene throughout 2011 to share tools and best practices and evolve strategies to address prescription drug misuse.

This collaborative and comprehensive approach is garnering attention from leaders at the state and national level.

Health Provocateur Project - spearheading SafeRx
The Community Health Improvement Partnership (CHIP) is spearheading this four-county, multi-healthcare organization agreement through its Health Provocateur Project, which includes CEOs of every hospital and health department in these counties. Since 2005, CHIP has convened these regional healthcare leaders, facilitating dialogue and urging this unique public-private partnership to serve as an innovative model for fostering and improving population health in the region.

About the Health Provocateur Project...

Working in collaboration with local substance abuse coalitions

Substance abuse coalitions in our region are working to build awareness and provide prevention services to reduce the impact of substance abuse, including prescription medication abuse, in our communities. These coalitions, along with CHIP’s Community Health Action Teams (CHATs), have joined this campaign to help create a strong, cohesive community outreach for our region.

Medical Education Resources

PainEDU.org

Media & Latest News

Building an army to fight the deadly side of pain pills
[Sarasota Herald Tribune 4-27-11]
Florida SafeRx Campaign: An interview with Kari Ellingstad, MPH [PainEDU.org]
SafeRx pain medicine misuse/abuse educational series begins [media release]
White House issues strategy to address Rx drug abuse [4-18-11]
Group urges area physicians to attend safe prescribing seminar
[WWSB ABC7 4-15-2011]
Editorial: Leave drug database alone [Sarasota Herald-Tribune 2-13-11]
Tom Lyons: Government should get in the way of pill mills
[Sarasota Herald-Tribune 2-13-11]
Proposed "pill mills" repeal meets opposition [Venice Gondolier Sun 2-12-11]
- Download PDF version
Video: Scott Plans to eliminate drug database [SNN6 2-9-11]
Regional campaign to curb prescription pill abuse serves vital need
[bradenton.com 2-4-11]
Prescription drugs drive Sarasota’s soaring overdose death rate
Regional effort to curb prescription drug abuse announced
[Bradenton Herald 2-1-11]
Health officials team up to fight prescription abuse
[Sarasota Herald Tribune 2-1-11]
Coalition will work together to fight prescription drug abuse
[WWSB ABC 7 2-1-11]
Combating a Health Quandary [North Port Sun 2-1-11]
- Download PDF version
County Health Departments / Hospitals Combat Prescription Drug Abuse
[WGCU News 2-1-11]
Regional SafeRx Campaign Kickoff (Media Release)
Video: Watch a video of the signing... [Access Sarasota TV]
Features footage of the CEOs and Directors at the proclamation event
Read the SafeRx Proclamation...