On Thursday, November 10, Peer Assistance Services, Inc. (PAS), in partnership with the Division of Behavioral Health (DBH) presented the Colorado Prescription Drug Abuse Forum at the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado to more than 100 people. Addressing the epidemic of prescription drug abuse, the Forum was structured around the Office of National Drug Control Policy’s (ONDCP) four-pronged action plan to curb the issue: education, monitoring, medication disposal and enforcement.

Elizabeth Pace, Peer Assistance Services CEO, set the stage for the day emphasizing the importance of education in combating substance abuse, and the Forum’s particular focus of prescription drug abuse. As an agency dedicated to the prevention and intervention of substance abuse, PAS recognized that education and awareness are critical prevention and intervention strategies and created an education series targeted to various audiences to increase broad awareness of the issues and solutions, with the Forum as the third in the series of education events during 2011. Pace outlined the day with an overview of the speakers, panel and workgroup goals.

Colorado Department of Human Services Office of Behavioral Health Director Lisa Clements introduced the morning keynote speaker Gil Kerlikowske, Director of National Drug Control Policy, ONDCP. Director Kerlikowske directed the participants attention to the dramatic need for action to combat prescription drug abuse and presented ONDCP’s approach in the four areas with a compelling demonstration of the facts and details of the plan. His overview was the perfect segue to talking about the direct consequences of abuse. Former Boulder District Attorney, Alex Hunter put a very personal face on the problem, sharing the painful story of his son’s death due to prescription drug overdose and his perspective as a result of the tragedy, with a plea for change of awareness, policy and approach to the issue.

Hunter’s presentation was followed by a panel discussion on Colorado’s response to the issue, moderated by DBH Community Prevention and Early Intervention Programs Director Stan Paprocki and comprised of participants representing the four components of the ONDCP plan. Governor’s Deputy Director of Community Partnerships Karla Maraccini; sponsor of the Colorado Prescription Drug Monitoring legislation, State Senator Irene Aguilar; Colorado’s Chief Medical Officer and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Executive Director Chris Urbina; and Drug Enforcement Administration, Denver Field Division Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Schiller, represented education, monitoring, disposal and enforcement, respectively.

The lunch keynote speaker, Lt. Governor Joe Garcia highlighted the governor’s office approach to prescription drug misuse and abuse as well as the overall health of Colorado’s citizens. After lunch, the focus shifted to strategizing on education plan for education to the varied audiences of parents, older adults, law enforcement, prescribers and educators, with fruitful discussions and strong recommendations.

Director Gil Kerlikowske keynote presentation
State Senator Irene Aguilar PDMP presentation


PRESENTED BY  Peer Assistance Services, Inc. and the Colorado Division of Behavioral Health

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       SPONSORS

 
SUPPORTERS  Colorado Area Health Education Centers • Colorado Family Education, Resources & Training • Colorado Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Prevention Program  • Colorado Meth Project • Colorado Pharmacists Society • Colorado Prescription Drug Abuse Task Force   •  Drug Enforcement Administration   •  Employee Assistance Professionals Association of Colorado   •  Office of the Colorado Attorney General •  OMNI Institute  • RMC Health, Prevention Information Center   
 
EDUCATION SERIES 2011  Peer Assistance Services understands education is a critical strategy in achieving our mission.To create awareness about the wide-reaching effects of substance use and encourage dialogue on how to address this issue, we designed a series of educational events. Click for event series sponsorship opportunities.
EDUCATION SERIES 2011 SPRING EVENT THE ANNUAL AWARENESS EVENT • held Friday, April 15, 2011
• featuring Howard Dean, MD on "The opportunities for substance abuse prevention and treatment with The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act"     
• Andrew Romanoff, Master of Ceremonies
• Lorez Meinhold introduced Gov. Howard Dean and participated in a Q&A with Gov. Dean

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PRESENTING SPONSOR 

 

PARTNER SPONSORS 
• Centura Health    •   Elizabeth M. Pace   •   Robin S. Mower, Pharm.D   •   USW Local 920, Colorado Professional Employees, Chain Staff Pharmacists

PATRON SPONSORS 
• Center for Dependency, Addiction and Rehabilitation   •   Clare & Matt Sandekian
• Colorado Dental Association   •   Connie Robertson, spark communications
• Crossroads’ Turning Points, Inc.   •   Harmony Foundation
• Lee Ann Aden & Mark Tokheim   •   National Jewish Health    
• Sara & Howard Jarrett   •   Valley Hope Association   •   Wells Fargo

2011 SUMMIT ON SBIRT   
The Value of SBIRT in CO Hospitals Larry Gentilello, MD  
Substance Use by CO Trauma Patients: Data from the Colorado Trauma Registry Holly Hedegaard, MD, MSPH
Impacts of an Urban SBIRT Program  Kerry Broderick, BSN, MD
Business Case for Hospital SBIRT and an update on the Joint Commission SBIRT Measures/CMS Inpatient Psych Prospective Payment Rule Eric Goplerud, PhD  
Screening and Brief Intervention Training  Craig Field, PhD, MPH and Chris Dunn, PhD
 

2010 SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND PATIENT SAFETY POLICY SUMMIT
Slide show

Presentations

2009 PEER ASSISTANCE SERVICES 25TH ANNUAL AWARENESS EVENT, with Judy Collins
Slide show