prescription abusePrevention Workz, Inc. functions as the regional Area Prevention Resource Center (APRC) for the Oklahoma counties of Alfalfa, Grant, Logan, Kingfisher, Garfield and Major. For 20 years, the organization has conducted comprehensive research-based ATOD (alcohol, tobacco and other drug) prevention. It is funded through the ODMHSAS, the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services with federal prevention grant funds.

Fighting Prescription Drug Abuse

The Prevention Workz Regional Prevention center recently received a $90,000 federal grant through ODMHSAS to address the issue of non-medical prescription drug use in Garfield County, Oklahoma.

According to Sean Byrne, Prevention Workz Executive Director, the option to renew for the same amount for the next three years depends on the continued availability of state or federal funds, and how well the Prevention Workz organization performs the grant objectives.

The four western Oklahoma communities of Pawnee, Beckham, Garfield and Woodward bid competitively for the grant targeting 12-to 25-year olds. Only the two counties of Pawnee and Garfield received funding.

According to Byrne, Prevention Workz has been addressing the issues of adult prescription drug abuse in Garfield County for several years, focusing on drug take-back events, drug drop-off locations, prescriber and care facility education programs, and working with the Naloxone Rescue Initiative. Byrne attributes Prevention Workz’s success to the building of strong partnerships; and by increasing community awareness of the prescription drug abuse problem.

Prescription Drug Abuse in Oklahoma

According to a recent NewsOK online article, Oklahoma ranks No. 1 nationwide for the abuse of prescription painkillers. On the average, two Oklahomans die every day due to drug overdoses—more than motor vehicle-related fatalities.

The 2014 Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment reveals a gradual and significant trend since 2008 in prescription drug use by adolescents.

Garfield County’s rates of prescription drug abuse in 2008 for 6th and 8th graders were comparable to those statewide. Tenth and 12th grader rates of prescription drug abuse were significantly lower than throughout the state. However, by 2012, the rate of Garfield County prescription drug abuse in each grade level exceeded prescription drug-use rates statewide.

By 2014, Garfield County 8th and 12th-grader usage rates were significantly higher than the Oklahoma rate for lifetime misuse of prescription drugs.

Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention

Prevention is as a proven way to reduce substance abuse—and its related consequences. Prevention Workz notes that the Risk and Protective Factor Model of Prevention is based on the premise that by identifying the risk-increasing factors that result in a problem such as substance abuse, it then makes sense to find ways to reduce those risks.

Identified risk factors known to contribute to youth drug use, school dropout, delinquency and violent behaviors are linked to the characteristic of their family environment, their school, their peer group and other students, and their community.

According to Byrne, the number one source of drugs is friends, with 30 percent of the youth reporting they get the prescription drugs from a friend.   Eighteen percent, and the next most common source, is from home. Thirteen percent report getting the prescription drugs at a party, the third most common source.

Byrne notes that these statistics give Prevention Workz a place to start with programs and interventions, and what to target. A focus on providing medication lock-boxes designed to prevent unauthorized access by youth, and helping parents to recognize the signs of drug use and drug paraphernalia are examples of such targeted programs.

The 2013 State of Oklahoma Plan to Reduce Prescription Drug Abuse focuses on several ways to address the prescription drug abuse problem:

  • Community and public education.
  • Prescriber and provider education.
  • Prescription drug disposal and/or storage for public.
  • Prescription drug disposal and/or storage for providers.
  • Prescription drug tracking and monitoring.
  • Regulatory and enforcement measures.

Treatment and/or interventions.