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Public Health Management Corporation Presented “A Practical Approach to Understanding the Opioid Epidemic” for National Public Health Week

PHILADELPHIA – Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC), a nonprofit public health institute that creates and sustains healthier communities, recognized National Public Health Week with “A practical approach to understanding the opioid epidemic.” The leading public health agency convened local partners and stakeholders to discuss the elements of the opioid epidemic and foster sustaining collaborations. The event included an Opioid 101 session, expert-led panel discussion and training on how to properly administer Narcan^®, the nasal spray medication used to reverse opioid overdose.

PHMC’s Senior Research Scientist and Director of the Center on Addictions, Karen Dugosh, PhD, and Keli McLoyd, JD, Policy Analyst were joined for the panel discussion by Allison Herens, LSW, Harm Reduction Coordinator at the Philadelphia Department of Public Health and Chris Tjoa, MD, Deputy Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services. The back-to-the-basics conversation took an in-depth look at the opioid crisis, examining how we got here and strategies for more collaboration, prevention and treatment. Laurie Corbin, MSS, MSLP, Senior Director of Criminal Justice Initiatives and Adam Brooks, PhD, Director of Research at PHMC moderated the discussion and led the Opioid 101 training.

“During a week dedicated to the health and wellness of our communities, we found it critically important to address the opioid epidemic as it continues to devastate families and communities in Philadelphia and beyond,” said Richard J. Cohen, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of PHMC. “We are hopeful that today’s event provided an opportunity to cultivate a greater understanding of the epidemic as it exists today, and garnered more insight into how we can come together as a community to expand research, advocacy, prevention and treatment practices.”

In Philadelphia alone, the Department of Public Health reports that fatal drug overdoses have increased by more than 50 percent from 2013 through 2015 – with 80 percent involving opioids. In partnership with government and community-based organizations, PHMC has undertaken a number of initiatives to address this epidemic and create a healthier region through advocacy, research, integrated care and evidence-based treatment approaches.

Most recently, PHMC celebrated the launch of the PA Opioid Prevention Project, a youth-developed, multi-media opioid misuse prevention campaign designed to empower youth and parents with the education, knowledge and resources to make healthy choices.

National Public Health Week is recognized annually during the first full week of April to highlight the issues that are important to improving the health of our nation.

About PHMC
Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) is a nonprofit public health institute that creates and sustains healthier communities. PHMC uses best practices and evidence-based guidelines to improve community health through direct service, partnership, innovation, policy, research, technical assistance and a prepared workforce. PHMC has served the region since 1972. For more information on PHMC, visit www.phmc.org, like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.

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