Responding to Opioid Overdose in Rhode Island: Where the Medical Community Has Gone and Where We Need to Go

摘要

The number of opioid overdose events in Rhode Island has increased dramatically/catastrophically in the last decade; Rhode Island now has one of the highest per cap- ita overdose death rates in the country. Healthcare pro- fessionals have an important role to play in the reduc- tion of unintentional opioid overdose events. This article explores the medical community's response to the local opioid overdose epidemic and proposes strategies to cre- ate a more collaborative and comprehensive response. We emphasize the need for improvements in prevent- ing, identifying and treating opioid addiction, providing overdose education and ensuring access to the rescue medicine naloxone.