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Alaska governor declares opioid abuse public health disaster
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Leroy N. Soetoro
Feb 21, 2017, 5:18:43 PM2/21/17
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https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/2017/02/15/alaska-governor-declares-
opioid-abuse-public-health-disaster/
Gov. Bill Walker issued an order Tuesday officially declaring the state's
opioid crisis a public health disaster.
The disaster declaration was designed to create a legal basis for the
state to issue a medical "standing order" that allows community groups,
law enforcement and members of the public to dispense and administer
naloxone, an anti-overdose medication, said Dr. Jay Butler, Alaska's chief
medical officer.
Alaska used a $5 million federal grant on naloxone kits it is now
distributing through a program run by the state Division of Public Health.
The medical standing order was issued Tuesday, Butler said.
"It seems like a bit of an unorthodox approach, but other states have used
similar mechanisms," said Butler.
Butler, who has a background in infectious disease, said he thought it was
the first time the state had used a disaster declaration to respond to a
public health crisis.
The opioid order is the 11th disaster declaration Walker has issued.
Others include a December storm in Western Alaska, landslides in Sitka,
flooding on the Dalton Highway and a washateria fire in Alatna.
Declaring opioid abuse a public health disaster usually reserved for
events like floods, earthquakes and fires holds extra rhetorical weight,
said Butler.
"It's a great way to begin framing the response to this epidemic."
The disaster declaration shouldn't cost the state any additional money,
according to supporting materials released with the declaration.
Butler, an infectious disease specialist, said he is cautious about using
the term "epidemic." But he says it's appropriate in talking about opioid
abuse in Alaska.
Nationally, heroin abuse began to rise about 15 years ago, according to
Butler. Prescription painkiller deaths increased in Alaska about a decade
ago. Heroin hit hard starting five or six years ago: The declaration says
the number of heroin-associated deaths in Alaska quadrupled between 2009
and 2015.
The epidemic has changed, but the wave hasn't crested yet. In the past two
years, treacherous painkillers like fentanyl have become more prominent in
the state, he said. And most recently, novel lab-made forms of synthetic
opioids have appeared.
The declaration "comes in response to the growing number of overdoses
attributed to opioid abuse and the evidence that highly dangerous
synthetic opioids have made their way into Alaska."
"It's hard to know what's going to come next," he said.
A letter to legislators signed by Walker says emergency responders in
communities from Juneau to Fairbanks have been "overwhelmed" with opioid
overdoses.
Alaska is not the only state to declare opioid abuse a disaster.
In November, Virginia's governor issued a similar declaration.
Butler said the disaster declaration is only a temporary solution to
getting anti-overdose drugs to the public.
"This is a short period of time. If we continue for a longer period, we'll
probably have to work with the Legislature," Butler said.
Clearly, getting anti-overdose drugs to more people is only one part of
responding to opioid abuse, Butler said.
More Alaskans still die of alcohol-related diseases than opioid abuse.
"We need to move beyond molecule-specific responses to look more broadly
at how we treat addictions."
--
Donald J. Trump, 304 electoral votes to 227, defeated compulsive liar in
denial Hillary Rodham Clinton on December 19th, 2016. The clown car
parade of the democrat party has run out of gas.
Congratulations President Trump. Thank you for ending the disaster of the
Obama presidency.
ObamaCare is a total 100% failure and no lie that can be put forth by its
supporters can dispute that.
Obama jobs, the result of ObamaCare. 12-15 working hours a week at minimum
wage, no benefits and the primary revenue stream for ObamaCare. It can't
be funded with money people don't have, yet liberals lie about how great
it is.
Obama increased total debt from $10 trillion to $20 trillion in the eight
years he has been in office, and sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood
queer liberal democrat donors.
With a little luck, we'll see compulsive liar Hillary Clinton in jail too.
opioid-abuse-public-health-disaster/
Gov. Bill Walker issued an order Tuesday officially declaring the state's
opioid crisis a public health disaster.
The disaster declaration was designed to create a legal basis for the
state to issue a medical "standing order" that allows community groups,
law enforcement and members of the public to dispense and administer
naloxone, an anti-overdose medication, said Dr. Jay Butler, Alaska's chief
medical officer.
Alaska used a $5 million federal grant on naloxone kits it is now
distributing through a program run by the state Division of Public Health.
The medical standing order was issued Tuesday, Butler said.
"It seems like a bit of an unorthodox approach, but other states have used
similar mechanisms," said Butler.
Butler, who has a background in infectious disease, said he thought it was
the first time the state had used a disaster declaration to respond to a
public health crisis.
The opioid order is the 11th disaster declaration Walker has issued.
Others include a December storm in Western Alaska, landslides in Sitka,
flooding on the Dalton Highway and a washateria fire in Alatna.
Declaring opioid abuse a public health disaster usually reserved for
events like floods, earthquakes and fires holds extra rhetorical weight,
said Butler.
"It's a great way to begin framing the response to this epidemic."
The disaster declaration shouldn't cost the state any additional money,
according to supporting materials released with the declaration.
Butler, an infectious disease specialist, said he is cautious about using
the term "epidemic." But he says it's appropriate in talking about opioid
abuse in Alaska.
Nationally, heroin abuse began to rise about 15 years ago, according to
Butler. Prescription painkiller deaths increased in Alaska about a decade
ago. Heroin hit hard starting five or six years ago: The declaration says
the number of heroin-associated deaths in Alaska quadrupled between 2009
and 2015.
The epidemic has changed, but the wave hasn't crested yet. In the past two
years, treacherous painkillers like fentanyl have become more prominent in
the state, he said. And most recently, novel lab-made forms of synthetic
opioids have appeared.
The declaration "comes in response to the growing number of overdoses
attributed to opioid abuse and the evidence that highly dangerous
synthetic opioids have made their way into Alaska."
"It's hard to know what's going to come next," he said.
A letter to legislators signed by Walker says emergency responders in
communities from Juneau to Fairbanks have been "overwhelmed" with opioid
overdoses.
Alaska is not the only state to declare opioid abuse a disaster.
In November, Virginia's governor issued a similar declaration.
Butler said the disaster declaration is only a temporary solution to
getting anti-overdose drugs to the public.
"This is a short period of time. If we continue for a longer period, we'll
probably have to work with the Legislature," Butler said.
Clearly, getting anti-overdose drugs to more people is only one part of
responding to opioid abuse, Butler said.
More Alaskans still die of alcohol-related diseases than opioid abuse.
"We need to move beyond molecule-specific responses to look more broadly
at how we treat addictions."
--
Donald J. Trump, 304 electoral votes to 227, defeated compulsive liar in
denial Hillary Rodham Clinton on December 19th, 2016. The clown car
parade of the democrat party has run out of gas.
Congratulations President Trump. Thank you for ending the disaster of the
Obama presidency.
ObamaCare is a total 100% failure and no lie that can be put forth by its
supporters can dispute that.
Obama jobs, the result of ObamaCare. 12-15 working hours a week at minimum
wage, no benefits and the primary revenue stream for ObamaCare. It can't
be funded with money people don't have, yet liberals lie about how great
it is.
Obama increased total debt from $10 trillion to $20 trillion in the eight
years he has been in office, and sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood
queer liberal democrat donors.
With a little luck, we'll see compulsive liar Hillary Clinton in jail too.
Byker
Feb 22, 2017, 3:29:58 PM2/22/17
to
"Leroy N. Soetoro" wrote in message
news:XnsA723919689...@0.0.0.1...
>
> https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/2017/02/15/alaska-governor-declares-opioid-abuse-public-health-disaster/
news:XnsA723919689...@0.0.0.1...
>
> https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/2017/02/15/alaska-governor-declares-opioid-abuse-public-health-disaster/
>
> Gov. Bill Walker issued an order Tuesday officially declaring the state's
> opioid crisis a public health disaster.
>
> The disaster declaration was designed to create a legal basis for the
> state to issue a medical "standing order" that allows community groups,
> law enforcement and members of the public to dispense and administer
> naloxone, an anti-overdose medication, said Dr. Jay Butler, Alaska's chief
> medical officer.
Up there in the winter, there's not much to do but drink and hit up...
> Gov. Bill Walker issued an order Tuesday officially declaring the state's
> opioid crisis a public health disaster.
>
> The disaster declaration was designed to create a legal basis for the
> state to issue a medical "standing order" that allows community groups,
> law enforcement and members of the public to dispense and administer
> naloxone, an anti-overdose medication, said Dr. Jay Butler, Alaska's chief
> medical officer.
Siri Cruise
Feb 22, 2017, 7:26:47 PM2/22/17
to
In article <ZYqdnT4Tn7xcaTDF...@earthlink.com>,
It's a shame they don't have so many ghettoes in Anchorage, or the DEA would be
there in force to help out.
--
:-<> Siri Seal of Disavowal #000-001. Disavowed. Denied. Deleted.
'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'
Free the Amos Yee one.
Yeah, too bad about your so-called life. Ha-ha.
there in force to help out.
--
:-<> Siri Seal of Disavowal #000-001. Disavowed. Denied. Deleted.
'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'
Free the Amos Yee one.
Yeah, too bad about your so-called life. Ha-ha.
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