Eatontown, N.J. (August 22, 2019) – In recognition of continued efforts to combat the disease of addiction and reverse the number of opioids prescribed, RWJBarnabas Health Institute for Prevention and Recovery (IFPR) received the Opioid Reduction Options (ORO) Grant from the NJ Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services at the most prestigious Gold Tier level, presented only to a handful of organizations across the state.
The RWJBarnabas Health Tackling Addiction Task Force has set the standard for executing a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach to combatting substance use disorder, focusing on four key areas: education, prevention, treatment and recovery. As of May 2019, only 3.81 percent of patients were discharged from our system’s Emergency Departments with opioid prescriptions – a reduction of nearly one half since April 2017, and far below the national average of 17 percent. The ORO Grant award now charges IFPR with reducing the rate of opioid prescriptions written at discharge from Emergency Departments by an additional 10 percent, which will be executed through the Tackling Addiction Task Force’s Deliberate Reduction of Opioid Prescribing (DROP) initiative – a program that will continue to build upon the strong momentum already established in reducing opioid prescriptions.
“Our system’s commitment to proactively addressing substance use disorder is longstanding and continues to grow as we combat the national opioid crisis in our own communities,” said Connie Greene, Vice President, RWJBarnabas Health Institute for Prevention and Recovery. “This grant will support and fortify our committed team’s ongoing efforts to prevent the spread of this chronic disease.”
Thus far, opioid reductions across the system have resulted predominantly from educating doctors on the number of prescriptions that they were writing. This encouraged the utilization of already-existing alternatives and changed the long-standing practice of prescribing opioids. The DROP initiative will now look to address more complex patient cases, including individuals suffering from a dependence to opioids or substance use disorder, through alternatives that are not as accessible. The initiative will advance clinical protocols that focus on alternative prescriptions, therapies and procedures to treat and manage acute or chronic pain, supporting all patients in their transition from opioids to alternative medication and treatment.
Under the guidance of the Tackling Addiction Task Force, IFPR will implement the DROP initiative in the following RWJBarnabas Health facilities: Community Medical Center, Monmouth Medical Center, Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, and Saint Barnabas Medical Center. RWJBarnabas Health will continue to support and treat patients who are opioid dependent, as well as support patients with opioid use disorder through the Peer Recovery Program and access to Medication Assisted Treatment.
For more information about RWJBarnabas Health Institute for Prevention and Recovery, visit RWJBarnabas Health Institute for Prevention and Recovery or call 833-233-IFPR (4377).
About the Institute for Prevention and Recovery
The RWJBarnabas Health Institute for Prevention and Recovery (IFPR) is a leader in New Jersey (NJ) for substance use disorder focused prevention and recovery support services. IFPR has almost 30 years of experience providing programs and services implemented by a team of highly skilled and incredibly passionate professionals. Through comprehensive programs offered across NJ, IFPR perpetuates real change by facilitating effective, long-term impact, which creates prevention and recovery prepared communities. IFPR is also recognized for its tobacco cessation services, as well as its Training Institute.
Contact: Carrie Cristello
(973) 322-4642