Drug Overdose Prevention

Quick Links:

• Project DAWN
• Drug Drop Box
• For Prescribers
• Resources
• Mahoning County Surveillance Reports

Take Charge Ohio

MISSION: The mission of the Take Charge Ohio initiative is to empower safe pain management and medication use by educating patients and providing resources for healthcare providers. Together, we can manage pain safely and prevent pain medication abuse.

Vision: Empower all Ohioans to work together to use pain medication safely.

http://www.takechargeohio.org/

Project DAWN (Deaths Avoided With Naloxone):

• Using opioids in combination with anti-depressants, benzodiazepines, or alcohol; like opioids, these drugs impact breathing.
• Tolerance reduction as a result of not having used opioids recently, for example after release from jail, inpatient treatment, or hospitalization.
• Health conditions such as asthma or other breathing problems, liver or kidney disease, heart disease, or HIV/AIDS.
• Using street drugs with uncertain content and potency, for example heroin cut with fentanyl.

• Lack of response to stimuli, like shaking or sternum rub
• Slow or shallow breathing (less than 10 breaths per minute) or not breathing at all
• Choking, snoring, or gurgling sounds
• Blue, grey or ashen lips and fingernails
• Pale and clammy face
• Slow, erratic, or no pulse
• Vomiting / Seizures

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Drug Drop Box:

Throughout Mahoning County, there are free and anonymous boxes to drop off unused, unwanted medication. These drop off boxes are intended to reduce the amount of unneeded medicine in resident’s homes and decrease prescription drug abuse, which has soared in recent years, especially among teenagers.

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For Prescribers:

In recent years, health care providers in Ohio have made significant progress in transforming the health care system in Ohio to emphasize safe, effective pain management. The resources available on the Ohio Take Charge website will continue to build a culture of responsible prescribing. The website contains educational materials to empower patients to be involved in their pain management care, pain management literature, and Naloxone resource information.  There is also a link for the Ohio laws, rules and guidelines surrounding prescribing of pain medications and prescribing resources including interactive online trainings for physicians and dentists.

• OARRS: Ohio Automated RX Reporting System
• OARSS Software Integration Resources for Providers

Helpful Materials for Chronic Pain Patients

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Resources:

• Mahoning County Mental Health & Recovery Board
• OH Against OD (Ohio Against Overdoses) Information
• Ohio Department of Health-Project DAWN
• 2017 Ohio Drug Overdose Report
• Ohio Drug Overdose Data Reports
• Ohio Department of Health- Prescription Overdose Prevention

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Mahoning County Overdose Surveillance Reports :

• 2017 Overdose Surveillance Reports
• 2018 Overdose Surveillance Reports
• 2019 Overdose Surveillance Reports
• 2020 Overdose Surveillance Reports
• 2021 Overdose Surveillance Reports
• 2022 Overdose Surveillance Reports

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