Edgerg (2018) summarizes the classification of prevention interventions described by The Institute of Medicine as universal, selected and individual, based on their risk for a health problem as interventions that target a general population, individuals or groups at high risk, and smaller groups of individuals with multiple risk factors, respectively.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, in 2016 the rate of opioid-related overdose deaths in Michigan was higher than the national average with a rate of 18.5 deaths per 100,000 persons, while national average is 13.3 deaths per 100,000 persons (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2018). Interestingly, the rate at which providers prescribed opioids in Michigan, was also higher than the national average (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2018).
At the universal level, interventions may a general population about the current opioid epidemic due to misuse or abuse. An example of this level of intervention is the Operation Prevention program. This program is a junction between the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Discover Education to address the topic of opioids among students nationwide. This is a free service that can be used by a number of communities, as it provides digital classroom lessons, videos and dynamic learning modules for students, as well as a parent toolkit and resources in Spanish.
At the selected level, interventions may target medical providers on responsible opioid prescribing practices and law enforcement officers or other members of the community on how to administer Naloxone. A great example is the Detroit Opioid Prevention Collaborative, which is a partnership with the University of Michigan, The Detroit Wayne Mental Health Authority, and Altarum that serves as a community initiative to “address the current opioid epidemic through engagement, education, innovations and resources in Wayne County” (Detroit Opioid Prevention Collaborative, 2019 ). This initiative focuses on educating members of the community, such as law enforcement officers and community organizations, on how to administer Naloxone, as well as promoting pharmacies to register Michigan’s Naloxone Standing Order program. The program also educates physicians in the Detroit area about evidence-based practices for opioid prescription and the use of Michigan Automated Prescription System.
At the indicated level, interventions may target individuals who currently use opioids and are at risk for death due to opioid overdose. The Michigan State Police Angel Program is an example of this level intervention as it offers assistance to individuals currently “struggling with drug addiction” (You are here MSP Divisions Grants and Community Services Heroin Grant, n.d.). The MSP Angel Program helps this individuals by conducting a substance abuse assessment for individuals who walk into a MSP post asking for assistance with drug addiction, and offer support from a member of the community during the treatment process.
References
About the program. (n.d.). Retrieved January 31, 2019, from https://www.operationprevention.com/#about
Detroit Opioid Prevention Collaborative. (2019, January 09). Retrieved January 31, 2019, from https://altarum.org/solution/detroit-opioid-prevention-collaborative
Edberg, M. C. (2018). Essentials of health behavior: Social and behavioral theory in public health. (3rd ed.). R. Riegelman (Ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018, February 28). Michigan Opioid Summary. Retrieved January 31, 2019, from https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/opioids/opioid-summaries-by-state/michigan-opioid-summary
MSP Divisions Grants and Community Services Heroin Grant. (n.d.). Retrieved January 31, 2019, from https://www.michigan.gov/msp/0,4643,7-123-72297_34040_77095_78096—,00.html