PUBLIC HEALTH
A data analyst will be assigned to the Department of Emergency
Services to track overdose responses throughout the city using
ODMAP software. The ODMAP software app has advanced search
and filtering features that provide an early warning system that can
help to identify heroin laced with such deadly additives as fentanyl
and carfentanyl. The system will provide timely and accurate over-
dose information from a single source to provide an early warning
capability to emergency rooms and hospitals.
The Office of Addiction Services now also oversees two public
health programs that had existed prior to its formation– the Louis-
ville Metro Syringe Exchange Program and the Methadone Opiate
Rehabilitation and Education (MORE) Center.
The Louisville Metro Syringe Exchange Program opened in June
2015 to protect the community against a potential outbreak of such
blood-borne disease as HIV and hepatitis C spread by people who
inject drugs. This threat materialized very close to home! The neigh-
boring community of Austin, Indiana, with a population of about
4,200 and just 35 miles north of Louisville, had seen 181 new HIV
cases the prior year, plus approximately 155 new hepatitis C cases,
from needle sharing. Most people were injecting the drug Opana.
In a city the size of Louisville, that would have translated to more
than 31,600 new HIV cases and approximately 27,100 new hepatitis
C cases.
The demand for the Louisville Metro Syringe Exchange Program
has far exceeded expectations. Originally budgeted for about 500
participants per year, by the end of June 2017, the program had
seen more than 11,000 clients and referred more than 400 to drug
treatment. The exchange is open six days a week and has added four
satellite neighborhood sites that are each open one day per week. So
far, the Louisville Metro Syringe Exchange Program has prevented
the same sort of community-wide outbreak of HIV and hepatitis C
that plagued Austin.
The Office of Addiction Services also oversees the MORE Center.
The Methadone Opiate Rehabilitation and Education (MORE) Center
has provided medication-assisted treatment for opioid substance
use disorder since 1989. Methadone treatment is combined with
a comprehensive, structured program of counseling, education,
medical care and case management. The program serves about 200
individuals and is currently seeking a new site that can accommodate
a larger patient load.
secondary prevention efforts. A series of classes, Heroin Hurts, was
presented at the Louisville Free Public Library last month and we
will be offering more classes in upcoming months. Also, certified
alcohol and drug counselors have been making presentations to
area businesses on how to deal with employees who may be dealing
with addiction issues. We have also partnered with the federal Drug
Enforcement Administration (DEA), police and area pharmacies on
Drug Takeback events to help prevent prescription drug abuse by
ridding homes of expired, unused or unwanted prescription drugs.
Studies indicate that significant amounts of abused prescription
drugs are diverted from family and friends.
Now, the Department of Public Health and Wellness is calling on
all segments of the community to take action against addiction in
our community – and I’m asking for your help. This is a public health
crisis that has claimed far too many lives. Your city needs you! Last
month, we started convening an interdisciplinary work group of
representatives from the private and public sectors to forge a strategic
plan to deal with this community crisis. The medical community is
absolutely vital to the success of this important work.
To get involved, please contact me at Sarah.Moyer@louisvilleky.
gov or at (502) 574-6583. While Louisville’s opioid epidemic is a
truly daunting public health challenge, together we can meet the
challenge and overcome it. In future issues of Louisville Medicine
we will report on our progress.
Dr. Moyer is the director of the Louisville Metro Department of Public
2017 Harding Shymanski quarter page ad GLMS.ai 1 6/28/2017 11:28:14 AM
Health and August
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The Department of Public Health and Wellness has also been
partnering with the Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition, a local
nonprofit, to get the life-saving medication naloxone into the hands
of private citizens. At least twice a month since 2015, the organization
has been holding free training at the Department of Public Health.
These are open to the public and the staff distributes free naloxone
kits. To date, the Harm Reduction Clinic has distributed more than
4,700 naloxone doses in Louisville.
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800.880.7800 • www.hsccpa.com
Louisville, KY • Evansville, KY
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We are also reaching out to the community with primary and
AUGUST 2017
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