Describe the history and current state of the opioid crisis in Virginia.

Description should include

• the relationship between opioid prescribing and illicit opioid use to overall opioid overdose deaths
• the prevalence of co-occurring mental health disorders
• the shift in attitudes in the 1990s toward pain management and use of opioids, including the role of pharmaceutical marketing
• the stigma associated with addiction and the changing view of addiction from a moral failing to a chronic, relapsing disease
• statistics, trends, and demographics surrounding the crisis
• population health and other public health aspects of the crisis, including its effects on family and neonates, as well as overall health costs
• the Virginia Department of Health’s Declaration of a Public Health Emergency Links to an external site. on November 21, 2016
• proposed legislation to address the crisis in Virginia (i.e., House Bill 2161 Links to an external site. and Senate Bill 1179 Links to an external site., which require the secretary of health and human resources to convene a workgroup to establish educational guidelines for training healthcare providers in the safe prescribing and appropriate use of opioids)
• the development of curricula and educational standards regarding opioid addiction.

Process/Skill Questions:

• What agencies participated in the governor’s task meeting on the opioid crisis?
• What educational organizations will be tasked with providing opioid training to their students?
• What is the benefit of educating future medical professionals about opioid addiction?
• What is the current attitude in society about opioid use and addiction?
• How is the local community affected by the opioid epidemic?

Teacher Resource:

• The Opioid Crisis Among Virginia Medicaid Beneficiaries Links to an external site.