Knock Out Opioid Abuse Town Hall Series Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey and the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey

Background: The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey and Drug Enforcement Administration New Jersey, have since 2013, coordinated a series of symposiums to educate prescribers on their role in implementing safer prescribing strategies including helping to reduce the opioid crisis by raising awareness of the need to increase health literacy for their patients

Program background:

Do No Harm Symposium Series:

• Train and educate physicians and the medical community.
• Engage physicians and medical professionals in the prevention of the prescription drug epidemic.
• Educate physicians and the medical community on the link between prescription medication and heroin abuse.
• Discuss and develop best practices addressing the epidemic of prescription drug abuse and the rising levels of heroin abuse and deaths.

Evaluation Methods and Results: PostTest evaluation found that

Average percentage of prescribers who intend to make opioid prescribing changes or apply learnings to their practice as a result of attending the Do No Harm Symposium

98%

Conclusions: Educating prescribers on the need for opioid alternatives and the need to communicate clearly with their patients of the risks of prescribed opioids.

Implications for research and/or practice: Health communications organizations can replicate the Do No Harm Symposium series to decrease opioid prescribing for acute pain and integrate health communication strategies to best explain to their patients the risks of prescribed opioids and alternatives that exist.