Thursday, April 25, 2024
4/25/2024
The Mental Health and Anti-Addiction Services Administration of Puerto Rico will implement a Preventing Prescription Drug/Opioid Overdose-related Deaths (PR-PDO) Project to reduce overdose deaths among at risk adults by training traditional and new first responders (FR) and key community sectors on prevention strategies, including management and use of naloxone, creating a stakeholder Advisory Council. trainings of Trainers (ToT) will help reach a broader audience. The project is to be implemented territory-wide emphasizing areas of high overdose prevalence. The goals and objectives demonstrate annual and project lifetime numbers of persons to be served: Goal 1 - Prevent prescription drug/opioid overdose deaths by preparing FR and service providers of community sectors (elderly caregivers, pre-service clinicians, school and university counselors and social workers, among others) to recognize symptoms and administer naloxone injections. Objective 1.1 - Train 750 in Yr 01 and 1,000 FR and key sectors representative in Yrs 0-04 in areas of need identified in a needs assessment to be carried out in the first quarter of Yr.01. Objective 1.2 - Provide 40 trainings annually to BH and medical professionals, pre-service clinical students, state security and corrections officials, municipal EM staff, school and university counselors, elderly home staff and CBO staff who work with at risk populations. Objective 1.3 - Provide ToT to 12 professionals a year in setting serving prescription drug/opioid users. Objective 1.4 - Achieve that 85% of trainees report knowledge and skill increases on naloxone use. Objective 1.5 - Distribute 1,500 naloxone kits a year to trained FR in targeted communities of high need. Goal 2 - Reduce number of overdose deaths of individuals who misuse medications by educating individuals, families and associates on risks, treatment alternatives and intervention strategies. Objective 2.1 - Educate, through community outreach, 200 family members and caregivers of populations at risk, per year, about overdose prevention and response using naloxone kits. Objective 2.2- Achieve linkage to SA tx of 25% of FR-identified persons with an opioid drug addiction. Objective 2.3 - Develop a Service Navigation Unit to receive referrals and connect persons to SA Tx. Goal 3 - Strengthen prevention capacity ad infrastructure at the state and community levels. Objective 3.1- Disseminate, culturally/linguistically appropriate protocols for overdose interventions. Objective 3.2 - Create and facilitate a PDO Advisory Council of Governor appointed members. Objective 3.3 - Achieve, by YR 03, legislation permitting distribution of naloxone by local pharmacies. Objective 3.4 - Provide capacity building services to CBOs starting their own overdose education and naloxone administration programs. Objective 3.5 - Monitor, updating the current surveillance system, number of fatal and non fatal opioid events by municipality; number reversed; and referrals for, and use of, SA treatment after events. Objective 3.6 - Iidentify alternate and stable funding sources to ensure program sustainability. The project is for five years, requesting $850,000 per year for a contracted staff and supplies.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
