Gov. Raimondo Releases Action Plan to Fight Overdose Deaths
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Governor Gina Raimondo has released an action plan targeted at reducing the number of overdose deaths in Rhode Island over the next three years. Raimondo has urged the General Assembly to pass the $4 million funding proposal in her FY 2017 budget which expands access to peer recovery and supports medication assisted treatment at the Department of Corrections.
"We have a single focus in our work to address the overdose crisis: save lives. We can't work fast enough across the state to help those most directly affected by this crisis. As a parent, my heart breaks for the hundreds of Rhode Island families who have lost loved ones to addiction and overdose. We must continue to demand action and make swift change to promote prevention, treatment and recovery, and end the stigma of addiction," said Raimondo.
The Action Plan
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe action plan draws on a strategic vision that was outlined last winter by the Governor's Overdose Prevention and Intervention Task Force and describes specific policies and metrics designed to promote prevention, rescue, treatment and recovery.
The plan offers detailed policy reforms to prevent addiction and includes:
- Develop, implement and enforce regulations that limit most opioid dosing to a contained period of time, with exceptions for high-need patients;
- Develop clinical guidelines for co-prescribing opioids and benzodiazepines;
- Aggressive, targeted sanctions to ensure universal enrollment in the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program;
- Create a centralized and sustainable fund to maintain an adequate supply of naloxone, which can reverse the effects of a drug overdose;
- Open Rhode Island's first Center of Excellence before the end of 2016;
- Expand medication-assisted treatment to the Department of Corrections;
- Double the number of certified peer recovery specialists by March 2017; and
- Create a model discharge and recovery plan to promote recovery services for patients with substance use disorder.
Overdoses in RI
Up to 250 Rhode Islanders die from overdose in 2015 while illicit drug overdose deaths have increased 250 percent increase since 2011 and overdose deaths involving fentanyl have grown 15-fold since 2012.
"This public health crisis is devastating families and communities throughout Rhode Island. The action plan we have developed under the leadership of Governor Raimondo is a swift, firm response that will save lives. Through the Action Plan, we will be dispatching treatment, rescue, and recovery resources to people at highest risk for overdosing, and rolling out a clear, coordinated plan to prevent people from developing substance use disorders to begin with," said Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH, Director of Health and co-chair of the Governor's Task Force.
Click here for the complete action plan.
Related Articles
- Riley: Dear SEC, Say Hello to Mayor Elorza & Governor Raimondo
- Raimondo’s Tourism Problems Are Far From Over
- Under Raimondo, Out-of-State Vendors Receive 48% of RI Spending - $524M
- Raimondo’s National Press Problem Following Tourism Fallout
- Moore: Raimondo is Not Wrong to Hire Out-of-State Vendors
- NEW: Raimondo Fires Betsy Wall For Tourism Campaign Debacle
- Guest MINDSETTER™ Harry Adler: Dear Governor Raimondo
- “Recall Raimondo” Petition Causes Rift Between RI Republicans
- EDITORIAL: Raimondo’s “I Know an Out-of-State Guy” Caused the Tourism Disaster
- RI GOP Chair Bell Calls Raimondo Brand “Arrogant & Incompetent”
- Raimondo’s Out-of-State Contracts Extend Beyond Tourism
- The Case for Raimondo and Pryor’s Leadership – Guest MINDSETTER™ Joseph R. Paolino
- RI Gov. Raimondo’s Approval Rating Plummets - Only 6.5% Think She is Doing An Excellent Job
- Riley: Magaziner Throws Raimondo Under the Bus
- Raimondo is Looking to Shake Up Her Staff - See Who is in Play
- Raimondo’s Neuman Was Managing DraftKings Legislation As Wife Applied for Top Job
- DePetro Calls for “Rally Against Raimondo” at State House on Wednesday
- Gov. Raimondo Announces 8 Judicial Nominations
- Raimondo, Moffit Host College Signing Day Celebration at Central High School
- RI Loses Money on Point Judith Investment, Raimondo Continues to Make Money
- Raimondo’s Polling Numbers Are Terrible, But Not the Worst
- For Gov. Raimondo and Legislature - Is this RhodeWorks and Nothing Else Year?
- Gov. Raimondo to Host Conversations Focused on Helping People Build Job Skills
- Sanders Win in RI is Another Blow to Governor Raimondo
- Guest MINDSETTER™ Rep. Morgan: Governor Raimondo, Are You for the People, or Your Pals?
- Hundreds in Rhode Island Expected to Die from Overdose in 2014
- NEW: Chafee Issues Statement on Drug Overdose Deaths in RI
- NEW: Rhode Island Has 38 Drug Overdose Deaths So Far in 2014
- NEW: Spike in Drug Overdose Deaths Reported by HEALTH
- HIV + Drug Overdose Linked in RI Hospital Study
- Rhode Island Drug Overdose Deaths Have Tripled in Past Ten Years
- Richard Hill: Addressing Opiate Addiction and Overdose In RI
- PBS to Air Heroin Overdose Documentary and Discussion on Thursday
- NEW: Hodgson Calls for Action from AG on Overdose Epidemic
- Narcan Used on Overdosed Children in RI Over 50 Times in 2014
- Governor Raimondo Establishes Overdose Prevention Task Force
- Guest MINDSETTER™ Chekrallah: Governor’s Overdose Task Force Sets the Right Direction
- RI Dept. of Health Reports 7 Overdoses Since Jan. 1
- Media Campaign Launched By State to Combat Drug Addiction and Overdose
- State Report: Overdose Deaths, Pimps’ Profits + More
- Newport Hospital To Host Opiate/Heroin Overdose Forum on May 19
- RI Dept. of Health Announces Updated Drug Overdose Numbers
- Is Rhode Island One of the States With the Biggest Overdose Problem?
