ONDCP Blog

Health IT programs to help fight prescription drug abuse to be tested in Indiana and Ohio

Today in Indiana and Ohio, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched a pilot program that promises to give prescribers another powerful tool for combating prescription drug abuse. The Enhancing Access to PDMPs Project is designed to test the feasibility of connecting a prescription drug monitoring program to other health information technology (Health IT) systems to help emergency department physicians deliver better and more timely care to patients needing substance abuse treatment.

Prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) are statewide electronic databases that collect, monitor, and analyze prescribing and dispensing data submitted by pharmacies and dispensing practitioners. The programs collect a considerable amount of useful information, but their effectiveness at combatting prescription drug abuse is often limited because prescribers fail to access them.

The purpose of the new project is to help hospital staff quickly identify a patient’s controlled substance history and alert them to patients with a potential addiction to painkillers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has declared that prescription drug abuse in the United States is an epidemic. Programs such as this one can address the prescription drug abuse epidemic by expanding timely access to PDMP data and helping doctors provide quality care.

The Enhancing Access to PDMPs Project was created through the joint efforts of public sector and private industry experts who participated in the White House Roundtable on Health IT and Prescription Drug Abuse in June 2011. Later that month, the HHS Prescription Drug Abuse and Health IT Work Group of the Behavioral Health Coordinating Committee followed up with an Action Plan for Improving Access to Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs through Health Information Technology. The pilot program launched today in Indiana and Ohio is managed within HHS by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology in collaboration with ONDCP, CDC, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Read more about the Enhancing Access to PDMPs Program here. More information about prescription drug abuse is available on ONDCP’s website here.

A Father’s Day Message from Two Daughters to their Dad

Editor's note: In honor of Father's Day, we have two posts today about fatherhood, family, and recovery. This post comes from Amy and Kristy Curry, daughters of Bob Curry, a Vietnam veteran in recovery and the founder of Dryhootch, a veterans' network .
 

From Kristy Curry:

Father's Day has a new meaning in my life. To me, it means my dad's rebirth. He is back—I can see it and sense it. He is healthy, happy, and passing his gift of recovery and hope on to hundreds (if not thousands) of others. I do not doubt for a second that he will touch a million lives with his story.

My father has always been the strong one—the one that took care of everyone else, often at his own expense. When I saw an addiction start to take control of him, it was like watching someone slowly shutting him away. Trying to understand his past in a war that we knew little about was frustrating. How could something from so long ago, something he never talked about, be destroying his life 25 years later? Not until we contacted other veterans did we start to understand that we were not alone; that he was not alone. Had it not been for his fellow veterans willing to sacrifice their time and energy to help others, I believe I would have lost my father.

I am proud to say that my father has done the unimaginable. He has overcome his addiction with grace and power. He has overcome his pride to tell others his history in the hope that it will empower them to take a better path in their own lives.

My father is my hero. He not only saved himself, he is saving lives every single minute of every day. He is selflessly and tirelessly working to rewrite the future for all veterans. Father's Day was always special, but it now carries the additional meaning of survival and strength. I love my father and am proud to brag about him as much as I can.

From Amy Curry:

For me, Father's Day is a time to celebrate the incredible things my dad has accomplished and overcome. It’s also a time to reflect on his mission for other military fathers, mothers and families.

My dad has always been a great father—he has supported our family from the beginning, and was a constant presence in our lives as my sister and I grew up. We were lucky that my dad was able support the family and my mom was able to stay at home with Kristy and me. That’s a gift I would not trade for the world.

We never knew much about his time in the Army, and he didn't really like to talk about it.  Many years after he left Vietnam, my dad began to drink—something he never had done in the past. It came out of the blue and it didn't stop. There were ups and downs and we kept hoping he would get better.

My sister, mom and I did everything we could to help, but it seemed that nothing we did could get through to him. The worst thing about addiction is watching what it does to the person you love and thought you knew so well. Addiction doesn’t just take that person away, it spreads destruction to the people who love him most.

After years of struggle, we learned that my dad’s addiction stemmed from Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). If only we had known sooner. With the support of his fellow veterans, we were able to get the treatment my father finally needed. His military family encouraged him to draw on his own strength on the path to recovery. Now it’s my dad's mission in life to help those who may be headed down the painful path he and many veterans endured.

He works tirelessly for his cause in raising awareness for PTSD and the needs of our veterans. He knows what will happen if they are ignored and doesn't want to see it happen to another generation.

I am extremely proud of my father and what he has been able to accomplish. I have no doubt that he will continue to do great things for our veterans and continue to be the loving supportive father he has always been to our family.

The Importance of Substance Use Prevention in America’s LGBTQ Community

According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, gay, lesbian, and bisexual high school students are at higher risk for alcohol and drug abuse than heterosexual students. (Read a press release about the report here.)

Today, during Pride Month, I was pleased to meet with leaders and advocates from the LGBTQ community to talk about substance use and other important issues facing those who are “differently” oriented. I told them how proud I was to work for a President who has made more LGBTQ appointments than any before him and whose Administration is committed to securing equality for all citizens, regardless of race, creed, or sexual orientation.

We also talked about the importance of prevention – stopping substance use before it begins and identifying drug-related problems early. Alcohol and drugs can wreak havoc on even the most supportive and nurturing environments, so it is crucial for these young people, and indeed for all Americans, to remain vigilant against the threat.

The Obama Administration has made drug-use prevention one of our top priorities and has devoted substantial resources to supporting community-based coalitions around the country through the Drug Free Communities Support Program. These coalitions work to address local health and safety issues, including those faced by LGBTQ youth.

Among the other powerful tools available for preventing substance abuse is ONDCP’s “Above the Influence” Campaign, which gives teens information and a national platform to talk about staying above the influence of drugs and alcohol.

The Administration realizes there are significant gaps in understanding about the LGBTQ community. Although we’re clearly moving in the right direction, we must continue to seek culturally appropriate strategies and provide prevention, treatment, and recovery services for all Americans struggling with substance use problems.

A Visit to Haven for Hope

Today, I visited San Antonio, Texas, to discuss the Obama Administration’s emphasis on treatment and prevention as part of national efforts to reduce drug use and its consequences.  During my stay, I stopped by Haven for Hope– a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming the lives of homeless men, women, and children by addressing the root causes of homelessness through education, job training, and behavioral health services.

As the Nation’s largest campus of its kind, Haven for Hope provides the care and resources that homeless Americans need to overcome substance abuse. I had the honor of touring the campus and discussing Haven for Hope’s success in helping substance users recover from the ravages of addiction.

The important work done at Haven for Hope underscores that we must treat America’s drug problem as a public health issue, not just a criminal justice one. Haven for Hope is a shining example of why it’s important to take this approach and to recognize that recovery is essential to tackling the country’s drug problem. Too many people suffering from addiction aren’t able to receive adequate treatment, so it’s refreshing to see programs and facilities focused on increasing access to treatment for people who need it most.

The 2012 National Drug Control Strategymarked a significant shift in the way we approach the drug problem, with an emphasis on treatment and recovery. To support this shift, the Obama Administration has committed more than $10 billion in FY 2012 for drug education programs and support for expanding access to drug treatment for people suffering from substance use disorders. As we move to put these plans into action and prepare the next Strategy, I look forward to working alongside Haven for Hope and other admirable organizations that are helping those burdened with substance use problems get the care and support they need.