Governor Wolf Announces Significant Progress in Opioid Disaster Declaration Initiatives

Joanne Bauer

Joanne Bauer

Published May 15, 2018 4:24 am
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HARRISBURG, Pa. — Four months into his Opioid Disaster Declaration, Governor Tom Wolf yesterday announced significant progress on several of the original initiatives that were part of the declaration aimed at increasing prevention, access to treatment and data collection for those suffering with opioid use disorder (OUD).

“Our continuing goal is to make forward progress in fighting the scourge that is the heroin and opioid crisis in Pennsylvania,” Gov. Wolf said. “The data from progress to date indicates we are achieving that goal. And we will continue to evaluate and advance initiatives to help all Pennsylvanians suffering from this disease and their families.”

Governor Wolf presented progress by various agencies involved in the 14-agency combined effort to fight the epidemic via the Opioid Command Center at the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, including:

HelpLine

  • Calls to toll-free helpline, 1-800-662-4357, have increased by 56 percent since January 1, 2018.
    • 2,776 total calls have been placed to the helpline.
    • 2,379 of those callers have been connected to services.
    • 1,858 of those callers have been connected to emergency treatment programs to include Medication-Assisted Treatment, Detox/Crisis stabilization, inpatient and intensive outpatient services.
    • The helpline has the capability to work with clients in 240 languages.

Naloxone Distribution and Saves

  • 29,208 doses of naloxone were supplied to Centralized Coordinating Entities (CCEs), funded by Governor Wolf’s naloxone initiative through PCCD.
  • 15,446 doses of naloxone have been redistributed by CCEs to first response agencies.
  • 1,436 overdoses were reversed using PCCD-provided naloxone:
    • Law Enforcement – 586
    • EMS – 119
    • Fire Fighters – 493
    • Drug Treatment Providers – 3
    • Community Programs – 232
    • Other – 2

Overdose Information Network (ODIN)

  • ODIN reports 765 naloxone administrations by law enforcement.

Body Scanner Pilot

  • Overdoses at Wernersville Community Corrections Center have been eliminated since installation of screening equipment.

Birth Certificate Waiver

  • 165 birth certificates have been issued without cost, enabling patients to enroll in opioid treatment programs.

Another major initiative of Governor Wolf’s disaster declaration is the creation of the Opioid Data Dashboard to help the public gain access to information about what resources are available locally, and where those resources need to be deployed. Since its launch, there have been nearly 16,000 visits to the dashboard, which can be viewed here.

“I am pleased with our progress under the disaster declaration, but there is much more work to be done,” Gov. Wolf said. “I look forward to seeing more results that address this epidemic so that we continue to see people suffering from the disease of addiction get the help they need to lead healthy, fulfilling lives.”

More information on the Wolf Administration’s efforts to combat the opioid epidemic and how people suffering from this disease can get help is here.

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