Journal of addictions nursing
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Prescription opioid and heroin use and addiction is a local, national, and worldwide epidemic plaguing over 11 million people. Attitudes toward substance use among the general public were highlighted as an area that needs to be further investigated and addressed. The Reducing Opioid Bias is Necessary (ROBIN) educational project was developed and presented to 21 participants as a one-time, 4-hour pretest and posttest design that included theoretical background, short videos, a documentary film, and writings from individuals and community members affected by opioid use disorder (OUD). Participants were assessed on their familiarity, attitudes, and effectiveness of the ROBIN educational program on their perceptions toward persons with OUD. ⋯ The ROBIN program can reduce bias among community and healthcare subjects. Limitations to the study should be addressed in future research on this topic.
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The International Nurses Society on Addictions (IntNSA) believes that nurses are key to improving the well-being of individuals affected by substance use, including their families and friends and the society within which they live. It is essential that nurses are able to effectively influence change at local, organizational, systems, national, regional, and international levels. Historically, IntNSA has drawn its membership from within the United States, reflective of its origins as a national organization. ⋯ This Policy Watch column provides a transparent overview of IntNSA's plans for global development and an update on its current progress. Its aim is to keep current and potential IntNSA members, our agency partners and interdisciplinary colleagues, and nurses in all specialties, including addictions nurses, informed about this important work. These strategies will ensure that IntNSA will achieve its stated vision "to be a global leader in addictions nursing" and accomplish its mission "to advance excellence in addictions nursing practice through advocacy, collaboration, education, research and policy development" (www.intnsa.org).
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Prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) are among the most promising state-level interventions to improve opioid prescribing, inform clinical practice, and protect patients at risk for prescription drug misuse, overdose, and death. In 2016, Pennsylvania launched an initiative mandating all prescribers to search the PDMP for each patient when the patient is prescribed controlled substances. ⋯ An education program increased ED providers' knowledge of the opioid epidemic and the Pennsylvania PDMP mandate and identified barriers to use. A decrease in opioid prescriptions written may have been associated with improved knowledge and suggests that providers can change prescribing behaviors. More research is needed in this area, and future projects may want to focus on prescriber attitudes toward PDMP usefulness.