KDHE Strategic Plan Outlines Efforts to Address Opioid Crisis

KDHE

In 2016, there were more than 300 drug-poisoning deaths in Kansas, and approximately half of those involved a prescription or an illicit opioid. Although Kansas is below the national average for fatal opioid overdoses, the opioid crisis is an emerging threat that remains a priority for the state to address. The Kansas Prescription Drug and Opioid Advisory Committee has developed a four-year plan to provide help to those affected and empower professionals with the strategies they need to reduce prescription drug and opioid misuse, abuse and associated adverse health outcomes. The Committee published the Kansas Prescription Drug and Opioid Misuse and Overdose Strategic Plan 2018-2022, with the overarching Protect and Improve the Health and Environment of all Kansans goal of identifying and implementing prevention and intervention efforts around prescription drug and illicit opioid abuse, thereby decreasing fatal and non-fatal overdose rates in Kansas.

This strategic plan was developed around five priority areas: Prevention, Provider Education, Treatment and Recovery, Law Enforcement, and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). The goals, objectives, and strategies in the plan are driven by Kansas-specific data, support best practices, and aim to address multiple levels of impact. You may download the document at Prescription Drug Overdose/Misuse Prevention. A limited quantity of hard copies will be available by request by emailing Theresa.Freed@ks.gov or by calling 785-296-5795. This project is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Prescription Drug Overdose: Data-Driven Prevention Initiative and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Partnerships for Success program.