BROOKINGS – Brookings Health System is teaming up with community partners to shine a local spotlight on the national opioid epidemic later this month.
Joining in on the Brookings Community Opioid Guardianship Forum are the Brookings County state’s attorney, Brookings County sheriff, Avera Medical Group, South Dakota State University, Hy-Vee Pharmacy, East Central Behavioral Health, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Hauffe Dental Clinic, and Animal Medical Center.
The forum will be held Aug. 16 at the Brookings City & County Government Center inside the chambers, Room 310. Two one-hour long sessions will be held starting at noon and 7 p.m. respectively that Thursday. All regional community members are welcome to attend the free event. No registration is required.
“According to the CDC, 115 Americans die every day from opioid overdose, either from prescription or illicit drugs. People living in rural areas have been identified as at higher risk for prescription opioid abuse and overdose,” said Quality Director Sandra Ruesch, RN, organizer of the Brookings Community Opioid Guardianship Forum. “Brookings Health’s goals for the forum are top-of-mind awareness of the problem for our community; addiction prevention; and identifying resources and actions our community can take to fight the epidemic head on.”
Each session will include an introduction about the impact the national opioid crisis plays at a local level in the Brookings area.
A panel discussion featuring law enforcement officials, health care providers and chemical dependency personnel will follow.
Panel topics will focus on upstream prevention and appropriate prescribing; addiction, treatment and relapse prevention; and diversion prevention/medication disposal.
Both sessions will conclude with an audience question-and-answer period.
Attendees will also be able to pick up resource materials at the event.
Courtesy photo: Deputy Darren DeJong, corrections sergeant at the Brookings County Sheriff’s Department, removes a medication bottle from the prescription drop off box located inside the sheriff’s office. The prescription drop off box, which prevents unused medication from being used recreationally, will be one resource discussed at the Brookings Community Opioid Guardianship Forum, which aims to shine a local spotlight on the national opioid epidemic. The event will be held Aug. 16 at the Brookings City & County Government Center. All regional community members are welcome to attend the free event.
