Governor Wolf Announces Significant Progress in
Opioid Disaster Declaration Initiatives
Harrisburg, PA – Four months into his Opioid Disaster
Declaration, Governor Tom Wolf today 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.
MEDIA CONTACT: J.J. Abbott, 717-783-1116
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