(The Center Square) – Ohio continues to push new initiatives to reduce fatal drug overdoses.
Gov. Mike DeWine recently announced a new prescription drug monitoring program designed to alert health care providers of non-fatal drug overdoses.
The state hopes the alerts will improve care coordination and promote access to medication for opioid use disorder and other tools to stop fatal overdoses.
“The goal of this alert is to give us an extra chance to save someone’s life,” DeWine said. “The research shows us that people who have recently experienced a non-fatal overdose are at a higher risk to overdose again in the near future, and that they often have regular interactions with the healthcare system – including pharmacists and prescribers. This new alert system will be a valuable tool allowing our healthcare providers the opportunity to educate and offer treatment and prevention options to these individuals before a tragedy occurs.”
The data will be reported by hospitals through the Ohio Department of Health. The Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System will now flag for prescribers and pharmacists any patient who had a non-fatal drug overdose and was discharged from an Ohio emergency department after April 8, 2024.
Among Ohioans who died in 2022 from an unintentional drug overdose, at least 32% had a prior non-fatal overdose. Among the same population, 26% received a prescription for a controlled substance from a health care provider within 60 days of their death.
“Data from state prescription drug monitoring programs, such as OARRS, continues to be an invaluable resource for healthcare providers,” Ohio Board of Pharmacy Executive Director Steven W. Schierholt said. “With this alert, we are encouraging prescribers and pharmacists to engage with their patients and offer proven interventions that will prevent fatal drug overdoses in the future.”
