AARP Wyoming and Mountain Pacific Partner To Offer Opioid Resources

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With the impacts of opioids remaining in the news in recent months, AARP Wyoming and Mountain-Pacific Quality Health have teamed up to provide new information on opioid safety, pain management, and reducing harm in our communities. It has been called the “most consequential preventable public health problem in the United States.”

Opioids (think Oxycontin, Hydrocodone, Vicodin, Morphine, etc.) are commonly used to treat chronic pain. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 30.8% of older adults experienced chronic pain in the past three months. One million Medicare beneficiaries were diagnosed with opioid use disorder in 2021.

Let’s look at some resources for those concerned about opioid use for themselves or a loved one.

Opioid Tools for Pain Management
Opioids are strong medications to treat pain. If used incorrectly, you can become dependent on them. When you go to the doctor, advocate for yourself or your loved ones. There are MANY methods to treat pain. We have some tools to help you prepare, including a pain diary.

To access these resources, click here OA_Communicating about Pain (2022).pdf (geriatricpain.org)

Opioid Overdose Prevention: 
Ensure you know how to use and access a rescue medication called naloxone. If someone overdoses on opioids, it can cause decreased breathing, confusion, and loss of consciousness. While emergency services should be called immediately, naloxone can reverse the effects of opioids until help arrives.

To learn more about naloxone, click here: How and When to Use Naloxone for an Opioid Overdose (cdc.gov)

Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) 
Opioids are extremely addictive. The drugs trigger the use of endorphins, natural chemicals released by your body’s nervous system, and can lead to opioid use disorder, which is a chronic and relapsing disease that affects the body and brain. It can cause difficulties with tasks at work, school, or home and can affect the ability to maintain healthy relationships. It can even lead to overdose and death.

If you or a loved one needs to learn more about opioid treatment or recovery, click here: Resource Treatment and Recovery Fact Sheet What You Need to Know About Treatment and Recovery (cdc.gov)

Breaking Barriers
Mountain Pacific, in collaboration with great partners, created a podcast series titled Breaking Barriers in Rural Health, where we discuss a variety of topics related to what is working in rural health care and mental health services and ways to replicate these successes. Mountain Pacific is also shining light where it is needed by identifying breakdowns and gaps in care.

Follow this link to listen: https://breakingbarriersinruralhealth.buzzsprout.com/


Additional Resources

• Do’s and Don’ts of Pain Medication Do's and Don'ts of Pain Medicines (mpqhf.org) 
• Facts about Opioids Take Action to Prevent Addiction (cdc.gov) 
• Chronic Pain Management Guide Access Here 
• Opioid Safety Flyer Naloxone Fact Sheet  

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