SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, USA, December 16, 2016 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The Opioid Community Collaborative was honored with the 2016 Governor’s Award in its efforts to reduce prescription opioid abuse in Utah. The collaborative group contains 12 partnerships, including Intermountain Healthcare, focuses on efforts to curb opioid overdose dependency and deaths from overdoses. The award was given at the Utah State Capital in December by the Utah Substance Use and Mental Health Council.
Intermountain Healthcare formed the collaborative in 2015 and has donated $3.5 million to fund its efforts. The group consists of community agencies including Davis Behavioral Health, Weber Human Services, and the Utah Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health.
Utah ranks fourth in the nation for drug poisoning deaths from 2012-2014. The collaborative has focused on reducing overdoes and misuse by utilizing public education, access to treatments, and policy initiatives. Public education signs have been added throughout Intermountain Healthcare’s clinics and hospitals. Included in the collaborative group’s efforts was with education of the safe disposal of medications, including secure drop boxes at 21 Intermountain Healthcare community pharmacies. To date, over 8,300 pounds has been collected in two years.
To learn more about the collaborative group, visit the Preventing Prescription Opioid Misuse section of Intermountain Healthcare’s website.
Intermountain Healthcare is a Utah-based, not-for-profit system of 22 hospitals, 185 clinics, a Medical Group with about 1,500 employed physicians and advanced practitioners, a health plans group called SelectHealth, and other health services. With a mission of helping people live the healthiest lives possible®, Intermountain Healthcare is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare through high quality and sustainable costs. For more information visit intermountainhealthcare.org.
