What Can Your PTA Do About the Opioid Epidemic?

It seems that no matter where you turn, there are more and more reports about the opioid epidemic. It has impacted everyone across the country regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity or socioeconomic status. This is an equal-opportunity epidemic—meaning no one is immune. However, there is still a negative public perception about individuals who struggle with substance use disorders. The myth that it is a willpower issue or “they deserve what they get” fuels the stigma that often stops people from reaching out and asking for help.

In order to get an understanding of where our country is with this epidemic, take a look at the following statistics from National Institute on Drug Abuse[1]:

  • Roughly 21% to 29% of patients prescribed opioids for chronic pain misuse them.
  • Between 8% and 12% develop an opioid use disorder.
  • An estimated 4% to 6% of patients who misuse prescription opioids transition to heroin.
  • About 80% of people who use heroin first misused prescription opioids.
  • Opioid overdoses increased 30% from in 45 states between July 2016 and September 2017.
  • The Midwest saw opioid overdoses increase 70% between July 2016 and September 2017.
  • Opioid overdoses in large cities increased by 54% in 16 states.
  • Synthetic opioids (primarily fentanyl) passed prescription opioids as the most common drugs involved in overdose deaths. In 2016, synthetic opioids were involved in nearly 50% of opioid-related deaths, up from 14%.[2]

These numbers are alarming and they don’t tell the stories of struggling families trying to access treatment for loved ones, or whole communities devastated by overdose deaths. You may wonder, what can I do to make an impact? How can I be part of the solution? What can my PTA do to make a difference?

The good news is, you can help in many ways!

  1. Advocate for streamlining access to an appropriate level of care services, including medication-assisted services: There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach for substance use disorder treatment. Each person needs to be assessed individually based on their needs and experiences.
  1. Advocate for multiple pathways for recovery. including the use of peer mentors and recovery coaches: There has been promising ongoing research on the strength-based approach of people in recovery to providing support for individuals and families accessing care.[3] 
  1. Advocate for access to the overdose reversal medication Naloxone: The US Surgeon General “released a public health advisory to urge more Americans to carry a potentially lifesaving medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.” [4]
  1. Advocate for interstate prescription monitoring program: Prescription monitoring programs have been established in most, but not all states, to collect, maintain and monitor prescriptions. This has been shown to reduce the numbers of people “doctor shopping” for prescriptions.[5]
  1. Advocate for the training of all healthcare prescribers on medication pain management and risks of physical dependency: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) created guidelines[6] for prescribing opioids for chronic pain. This includes training of providers.[7]
  1. Advocate for and promote drug take-back programs[8]: These programs promote opportunities to get unwanted or unused drugs out of the medicine cabinet to be disposed of properly. These can be community-wide events or to have ongoing locations where drugs can be disposed of properly year-round.
  1. Advocate for funding of evidence-based prevention, screening and early intervention services: Evidence-based means that the initiative has been researched and proven to be effective. The National Registry on Evidenced Based Programs and Practices (NREPP) [9] provides a listing of evidence-based and emerging practices that can be implemented in a variety of communities and settings.
  1. Become part of a local substance-use prevention coalition: Coalitions are a proven prevention strategy designed to change the environmental culture of a community. PTAs represent not just parents but the entire community and are vital key stakeholders in making a coalition effective.[10] Learn more about building and joining coalitions.
  1. Share stories of long-term recovery and reduced stigma: PTAs have a powerful voice and ability to educate members and the community. By changing the story from one of disaster to one of hope, your PTA shows that people with substance-use disorders can heal. PTAs can lead the way in changing and eliminating the stigmatizing language often associated with people struggling with substance use disorders. Consider partnering with organizations such as Faces and Voices of Recovery,[11] whose focus is to destigmatize the disease with new messaging and supporting a national recovery movement.
  1. Promote and share the National PTA position statement on Prescription Opiate Abuse Awareness and Prevention.[12]

Interested in learning more?

National PTA is hosting a symposium entitled “Opioids: A Public Health Epidemic, A Crisis for Families” during the National PTA Convention & Expo in New Orleans, La., Saturday, June 23 at 3:45 p.m.

If you’re in or near New Orleans, I strongly encourage you to attend the symposium. Dr. Bertha Madras from the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis will be giving a keynote, and a panel of leading experts in opioid misuse, education and treatment will discuss the current opioid crisis, the evolution of prevention methods being deployed at the community, state and national levels, and what role PTAs and parents play in the fight to eradicate this epidemic. This session will also be streaming on Facebook Live, so every parent can hear this important information.


Susanne Smoller LCSW-R, CASAC, CPP, MAC, ACSW is the New York State PTA juvenile protection specialist, the Nassau Region PTA associate director and a panelist on the National PTA Convention & Expo Symposium “Opioids: A Public Health Epidemic, A Crisis for Families.” 

[1] https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/opioids/opioid-overdose-crisis

[2] https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/trends-statistics/infographics/fentanyl-other-synthetic-opioids-drug-overdose-deaths

[3] https://www.oasas.ny.gov/recovery/coach/index.cfm

[4] https://www.surgeongeneral.gov/priorities/opioid-overdose-prevention/index.html

[5] http://www.pdmpassist.org/

[6] https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/prescribing/guideline.html

[7] https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment/training-resources/opioid-courses

[8] https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/index.html

[9] https://nrepp.samhsa.gov/landing.aspx

[10] https://www.samhsa.gov/capt/tools-learning-resources/components-effective-coalition

[11] https://facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/

[12] https://www.pta.org/docs/default-source/uploadedfiles/Advocacy/recommendations-regarding-prescription-opiate-abuse-awareness-and-prevention-ps

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