Despite progress, drug overdose remains a leading cause of injury-related death in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), overdoses involving prescription and illicit opioids take the lives of 136 people every day.
The CDC recently launched the drug overdose website in Spanish, which includes:
• The basics of the opioid overdose epidemic, including frequently asked questions and commonly used terms
• Helpful materials and resources to raise awareness and help prevent opioid-related overdoses
• Patient information, such as fact sheets, posters, infographics and conversation starters
Recently, dramatic increases in opioid misuse and overdose death have been observed among people from some racial and ethnic minority groups, including Hispanic/Latino persons. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), the opioid misuse (i.e., heroin use and prescription opioid misuse) rate among Hispanic/Latino persons is similar to the national rate – about 4 percent. As Hispanic/Latino persons are one of the fastest growing minority groups, it’s essential that we provide resources for the Spanish-speaking community.
We all have a role to play. Raise awareness about the risks of opioid misuse and empower people to make safe choices. Spread the word and share these resources and information. Visit the Great Plains QIN Web site for medication safety resources.