THE IOWA POISON CONTROL CENTER IN SIOUX CITY IS SETTING UP A PROGRAM TO PROVIDE ROUND-THE-CLOCK CLINICAL ADVICE TO HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS TREATING PATIENTS WHO’VE OVERDOSED ON OPIOIDS OR HAVE AN OPIOID ADDICTION.
IT’S FINANCED WITH A GRANT FROM THE STATE’S OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND, WHICH IS GETTING 186 MILLION DOLLARS FROM PHARMACY CHAINS AND DRUG COMPANIES.
DR. DANIEL MCCABE — MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE IOWA POISON CONTROL CENTER — SAYS THE CENTER HAS ALWAYS BEEN AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE ADVICE ABOUT TREATING PATIENTS WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS — BUT THE GRANT WILL HELP SET UP A MORE FORMAL PROCESS.
OPIOID1 OC……..THROUGHOUT THE STATE.” :16
THE PROGRAM IS CALLED I-BEACON.
IT WILL NOT ONLY MAKE CLINICIANS LIKE DR. MCCABE AVAILABLE FOR CONSULTATIONS, BUT WILL PROVIDE ADVICE ABOUT A MEDICATION — CALLED BUPRENORPHINE — THAT’S USED TO TREAT PATIENTS WITH AN OPIOID USE DISORDER.
OPIOID2 OC……..RE-ENTER THEIR LIFE.” :21
WHILE MANY DOCTORS CAN PRESCRIBE THE DRUG TO TREAT A PATIENT WITH AN OPIOID ADDICTION, THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET IMMEDIATE ADVICE FROM AN EXPERT ABOUT HOW TO MONITOR A PATIENT’S USE OR TREAT AN ADVERSE REACTION.
MCCABE SAYS THE IOWA POISON CONTROL HOTLINE WILL NOW BE THAT 24/7, 365 DAYS A YEAR RESOURCE.
OPIOID3 OC…….ON THE SITUATION.” :22
MCCABE, AN EMERGENCY MEDICINE SPECIALIST AT UNIVERSITY OF IOWA HEALTH CARE, SAYS THE E-RS THROUGHOUT THE STATE SEE NUMEROUS PATIENTS EVERY DAY WHO SUFFER FROM AN OPIOID USE DISORDER.
THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL ESTIMATES 17-THOUSAND IOWANS HAVE BECOME ADDICTED TO OPIOIDS.
THE LATEST REPORT FROM THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY SHOWS THERE
WERE 172 OPIOID-RELATED DEATHS IN IOWA IN 2024.
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