The "opioid epidemic" refers to the serious public health issue stemming from the rapid increase in the use of prescription and non-prescription opioid drugs. To date, there has been a lack of significant and structured partnerships with patients and families in developing strategies to address the epidemic. As a result, policies and programs are moving forward without contributions from people who are directly impacted.
IPFCC's latest White Paper, Partnering with Patients and Families to Strengthen Approaches to the Opioid Epidemic, provides recommendations that support progress in which all efforts to address the opioid epidemic are planned and implemented with patients, families, and communities.
As an initial step, IPFCC and PFCCparters collaborated to hold a Patient and Family Advisor (PFA) Summit on the Opioid Epidemic in June 2018. This White Paper expands upon the rich discussions that took place at the Summit.
A Conversation About the Opioid Epidemic and Current Approaches to Address This Crisis
Hear Sam Quinones and Liz Crocker engage in a conversation about the roots of the opiate epidemic, how it’s changed over time, where it stands now, what it’s calling on us to do, and its connections to both the coronavirus and Black Lives Matter movement. (72:57 minutes)
A Mother's Story: Her Journey in Becoming a Community Advocate
Tamela Milan-Alexander, MPPA, MCH, Partnership and Outreach Worker at Access Westside Healthy Start Community Action Network, shares her moving story of addiction, recovery, and advocacy. (23:44 minutes)
Science, Story, and Stigma: Understanding and Effectively Responding to the Crisis of Opioid Overdose and Addiction
Sarah Wakeman, MD, Medical Director for the Mass General Hospital Substance Use Disorder Initiative, presents on effective approaches and strategies needed to address the opioid crisis. (46:28 minutes)
Watch more videos about partnerships to address the opioid epidemic