Authors: Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service

Publication Year: 2017

Last Updated: 2017-05-08

Journal: Indian Health Service

Keywords: IHS, Indian Health Service, NCUIH, AI/AN, Opioid epidemic

Abstract:

I am writing to provide an update on efforts by the Indian Health Service (IHS) to combat the opioid epidemic facing American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities.

In March 2017, the IHS established the IHS National Committee on Heroin, Opioid, and Pain Efforts (HOPE Committee) through an official charter. The HOPE Committee comprises multidisciplinary members with professional backgrounds in pharmacy, medicine, nursing, and behavioral health. The HOPE Committee will work from a framework based on six elements: 1) Establishing IHS policies; 2) Training Health Care Providers; 3) Ensuring Effective Pain Management; 4) Increasing Access to Naloxone; 5) Expanding Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT); and 6) Reducing the Inappropriate Use of Methadone.

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