scholarly journals Older Adults and Opioid Education: Lessons Learned From Experiences in Rural Arkansas

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 54-54
Author(s):  
Robin McAtee ◽  
Leah Tobey ◽  
Corey Hayes ◽  
Laura Spradley ◽  
Sajni Kumpuris

Abstract Nearly one-third of all Medicare participants were prescribed an opioid by their physician in 2015 (AARP, 2017) and in 2017, Arkansas had the 2nd highest opioid prescribing rate in the nation (CDC, 2019). Approaching older adults (OA) about opioids and pain management can be a sensitive topic. Educating and altering long-term treatment with opioids is especially challenging in rural areas where literacy, especially health literacy, is suboptimal. The Arkansas Geriatric Education Collaborative (AGEC) is a HRSA Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program with an objective to improve health outcomes including an emphasis to decrease the misuse and abuse of opioids among older Arkansans. To address this crisis, the AGEC partnered with local leaders such as the AR Drug Director, academia, Department of Health and Human Services, and multiple community based organizations to create age-tailored educational programs. Unique aspects of approaching and educating rural OA about opioids and pain management will be reviewed. Outcomes will be discussed such as their lack of knowledge about: what is an opioid, why they were prescribed, and what are viable alternatives. Also discussed will be lessons learned that resulted in more effective methods of reaching and teaching rural OA. Partnering with the AR Farm Bureau helped the AGEC reach 100’s of farmers in the extremely rural and mostly agricultural areas. Learning to not use the word opioid resulted in more participants and in a more positive attitude and outlook on attempts to change the culture of opioid use, misuse and abuse among older Arkansans.

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 54-54
Author(s):  
Peter Treitler ◽  
Stephen Crystal ◽  
Richard Hermida ◽  
Jennifer Miles

Abstract High rates of opioid prescribing and comorbid medical conditions increase risk of overdose among older adults. As the US population ages and the rates of opioid use disorder (OUD) increase in the elderly population, there is a need to characterize trends and correlates of overdose in order to more effectively target policy and practice. Using a ~40% random sample of 2015-2017 Medicare beneficiaries ages 65 and older with Part D pharmacy coverage, this study examined medically treated opioid overdoses among US older adults. The sample included 13-14 million beneficiaries per year. The rate of medically treated opioid overdoses among elderly Medicare beneficiaries increased by 15% from 6 per 10,000 in 2015 to 6.9 per 10,000 in 2017. Those with overdose were disproportionately female (63%), non-Hispanic white (83%), with diagnoses of pain conditions (96%), with diagnoses of major depression (63%), and with high rates of conditions that decrease respiratory reserve such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. 13% had co-occurring diagnosed alcohol use disorder, 36% were diagnosed with opioid dependence or abuse, and 12% were diagnosed with hepatitis C. Older individuals with overdose represent a complex mix of risk factors; identifying those most at risk (as well as those who have very low risk, whose pain management may be compromised by overly-rigid interpretation of opioid use guidelines) is key in order to address multiple risks, balancing risk reduction with appropriate pain management.


Author(s):  
Morgane Guillou-Landreat ◽  
Antoine Dany ◽  
Gaëlle Challet-Bouju ◽  
Edouard Laforgue ◽  
Juliette Leboucher ◽  
...  

(1) Background: Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a complex condition that can require long-term treatment. Pharmacological therapy for OUD involves treatment with opioid agonists (OMT) tailored to individual profiles. The aim of our study in daily clinical practice was to compare the profiles of patients treated with methadone (MTD) and those using buprenorphine (BHD or BHD-naloxone-NX). (2) Methods: A cross-sectional multicentre study explored the psychological, somatic and social profiles of patients with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) following Opioid Maintenance Treatment (BHD, BHD/NX, or MTD). Descriptive and comparative analyses were performed (3) Results: 257 patients were included, a majority were men using heroin. 68% (178) were on MTD, 32% (79) were on BHD. Patients with MTD were significantly more likely to report socio-affective damage, and more likely to be younger and not to report oral or sublingual use as the main route for heroin or non-medical opioids (4) Conclusions: In daily clinical practice, regarding OUD damage, only socio-affective damage was significantly more prevalent among patients on MTD than among those on BHD in the multivariate model. Age and route of administration also differed, and our results could raise the issue of the type of OMT prescribed in case of non-medical use of prescribed opioids. These hypothesis should be confirmed in larger studies.


Author(s):  
Claudia R. Amura ◽  
Tanya R. Sorrell ◽  
Mary Weber ◽  
Andrea Alvarez ◽  
Nancy Beste ◽  
...  

Abstract Background As Colorado ranked among the top nationally in non-medical use of opioids, a pilot medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) program was developed to increase the number of NPs and PAs providing MOUD in order to bring this evidence- based treatment to 2 counties showing disproportionally high opioid overdose deaths. Over the first 18 months, the MOUD Pilot Program led to 15 new health care providers receiving MOUD waiver training and 1005 patients receiving MOUD from the 3 participating organizations. Here we evaluate patient centered clinical and functional outcomes of the pilot MOUD program implemented in 2 rural counties severely affected by the opioid crisis. Methods Under state-funded law (Colorado Senate Bill 17–074), three rural agencies submitted de-identified patient-level data at baseline (N = 1005) and after 6 months of treatment (N = 190, 25%) between December 2017 and January 2020. The Addiction Severity Index, PhQ9 and GAD-7 with McNemar-Bowker, and Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests analysis were used to measure patient outcomes across after participation in the program. . Results Patients in treatment reported using less heroin (52.1% vs 20.4%), opioids (22.3% vs 11.0%), and alcohol (28.6% vs 13.1%, all P < 0.01). Patients reported improved health (53.4% vs. 68.2%, P = 0.04), less frequency of disability (8.69 vs. 6.51, P = 0.02), symptoms (29.8% vs 21.3%), pain (67.5% to 53.6), worry (45.3% vs 62.3%), anxiety (49.7% vs 23.2%), depression (54.1% vs 23.3%, all P < 0.02) after treatment. Conclusions This study shows decreased substance use, improved physical and mental health, and reduced symptoms after 6 months of MOUD. Although more research on retention and long-term effects is needed, data shows improved health outcomes after 6 months of MOUD. Lessons learned from implementing this pilot program informed program expansion into other rural areas in need to address some of Colorado’ major public health crises.


Author(s):  
Sarah E. Wakeman ◽  
Josiah D. Rich

Drug addiction treatment is increasingly complex. Only 5% of prisons and 34% of jails offer any detoxification services, and only 1% of jails offer methadone for opioid withdrawal. Even fewer facilities offer medication assisted therapy (MAT) for alcohol or substance use disorders despite the tremendous evidence base supporting the use of medications to treat addiction. Untreated opioid dependence both within corrections and in the community is associated with HIV, Hepatitis C, crime, and death by overdose. Substantial evidence argues that these risks are reduced through long-term treatment with agonist medications such as methadone and buprenorphine. Only a minority of prisoners receive any addiction treatment while incarcerated. Those that do are usually offered behavioral interventions, which when used alone have extremely poor outcomes. Although there are limited studies on the outcomes of drug treatment during incarceration, there are nearly 50 years of evidence documenting the efficacy of methadone given in the community in reducing opioid use, drug-related health complications, overdose, death, criminal activity, and recidivism. Buprenorphine is similarly an effective, safe, and cost-effective long-term treatment for opioid dependence that reduces other opioid use and improves health and quality of life outcomes. There is a growing role for MAT in jails, and to a lesser degree in prisons for the treatment of alcohol and opiate dependence. This chapter presents the current state of evidence based practice in correctional MAT models.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 532-532
Author(s):  
Linda Edelman ◽  
Kara Dassel

Abstract The purpose of our Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program is to provide geriatric and primary care education and training to long-term care (LTC) providers and staff, health professions students and community members. Our LTC partners and the communities we serve are often very rural and travel to urban areas for training can be difficult. Therefore, we have developed four online training that are offered free to our partners and rural communities statewide. These programs are designed to integrate the aims of the Age-Friendly 4M’s model (i.e., What Matters, Mobility, Medication, Mentation). The LTC nurse residency program provides gerontological nursing and inter-professional leadership training (all 4M’s), in a synchronous online environment. The asynchronous Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias training modules educate LTC staff and family caregivers about types, diagnosis and care of older adults with dementia (Mentation and Medication). The asynchronous Opioid Use in LTC modules were developed with partners to deliver live at LTC staff trainings about opioid stewardship (Medication). The LTC Learning Communities are monthly tele-health sessions for inter-professional LTC teams to discuss current issues and propose solutions (all 4M’s). We have successfully leveraged different synchronous and asynchronous online modalities to increase educational opportunities for formal and informal caregivers, including those in rural areas whose educational opportunities are geographically limited. To date our programs have reached over 500 individuals across our state, increasing knowledge about geriatric concepts, communication and team leadership. Moving forward, we will continue to develop and refine educational programs that promote the Age-Friendly geriatric-focused health care.


2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (12) ◽  
pp. 907-912
Author(s):  
Anita Srivastava ◽  
Meldon Mayer Kahan ◽  
Mae Katt ◽  
Tammy Patriquin ◽  
Henry Becker ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia R. Amura ◽  
Tanya R. Sorrell ◽  
Mary Weber ◽  
Andrea Alvarez ◽  
Nancy Beste ◽  
...  

Abstract Background. As Colorado ranked among the top nationally in non-medical use of opioids, a pilot medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) program was developed to increase the number of NPs and PAs providing MOUD in order to bring this evidence based treatment 2 counties showing disproportionally high opioid overdose deaths. Over the first 18 months, the MOUD Pilot Program led to 15 new health care providers receiving MOUD waiver training and 1,005 patients receiving MOUD from the 3 participating organizations. Here we evaluate the impact of the pilot MOUD program implemented in 2 rural counties severely affected by the opioid crisis on patient centered clinical and functional outcomes. Methods. Under state-funded law, three rural agencies submitted patient-level data at baseline (N = 1005) and after 6 months of treatment (N = 190, 25%) between December 2017 and January 2020. The Addiction Severity Index with McNemar-Bowker and t tests were used to measure program impact. Results. Patients in treatment reported using less heroin (13.0 vs. 3.7 days), opioids (3.7 vs. 1.9 days), and alcohol (3.2 vs 0.7 days, all P < 0.01). Patients reported improved health (53.4% vs. 68.2%, P = 0.04), less days of disability (8.69 vs. 6.51, P = 0.02), symptoms (29.8% vs 21.3%), pain (67.5 % to 53.6), worry (45.3% vs 62.3%), anxiety (49.7% vs 23.2%), depression (54.1% vs 23.3%, all P < 0.02) after treatment. Conclusions. This study shows decreased substance use, improved physical and mental health, and reduced symptoms after 6 months of MOUD. Although more research on retention and long-term effects is needed, data shows improved health outcomes after 6 months of MOUD. Lessons learned from implementing this pilot program informed program expansion into other rural areas in need to address some of Colorado’ major public health crises.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 307-307
Author(s):  
Walter Boot ◽  
Sara Czaja ◽  
Dana Plude

Abstract Following the success of the Personal Reminder Information and Social Management (PRISM) trial, which found that a specially designed computer system for older adults can enhance social connectivity and reduce loneliness among older adults at risk for social isolation, the PRISM 2.0 trial sought to replicate and extend these results to a new technology platform (tablet rather than desktop) with expanded social features and diverse populations of older adults, including older adults living in rural areas, assisted living communities, and senior housing. This symposium discusses the aims of the trial conducted by the Center for Research and Education on Aging and Technology Enhancement (CREATE), challenges encountered (including challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic), and solutions to those challenges. S. Czaja will begin with an overview of the PRISM 2.0 system and the trial. J. Sharit will discuss challenges encountered working within the context of assisted living facilities and with impaired participants. This will be followed by a discussion of technical challenges encountered during the course of the trial presented by N. Charness. W. Rogers will present training issues involved (both with respect to participants and assessors). Finally, W. Boot will describe challenges encountered with measuring and quantifying technology use during the trial. Lessons learned are applicable to many types of technology interventions administered in diverse contexts. D. Plude, Deputy Director in the Division of Behavioral and Social Research of NIA, will serve as discussant.


2020 ◽  
pp. 139-154
Author(s):  
Dennis J. Hand

Methadone is a long-acting full opioid agonist that has a long history in the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD). It was the first opioid agonist with OUD as an indication for use. Methadone was developed for OUD during a time of prohibition and criminalization of both addiction and the use of opioid agonists for addiction treatment, which resulted in methadone being heavily regulated at multiple levels. Methadone is frequently used in short-term withdrawal management (i.e., detoxification) and in long-term treatment, with the latter producing better treatment outcomes. This chapter explores the basic pharmacology of methadone and the development of methadone for OUD and its accompanying regulations, discusses the place of methadone in treatment for OUD, reviews the effectiveness of methadone treatment, and visits some practical factors related to methadone as part of treatment for OUD.


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