For Immediate Release: Drug Free Manatee to Fund Physician Training
Contact: Merab Favorite
Communications Coordinator
941-748-4501 ext. 3010
941-224-5840 (cell)
BRADENTON –As part of our response campaign to combat the current opioid epidemic, Drug Free Manatee has funded a course designed to provide clinicians knowledge and skills associated with safe prescribing practices.
“Combating this epidemic is not possible unless we start at the source,” said Sharon Kramer, director of Drug Free Manatee. “Educating physicians about safe prescribing and disposal practices will help them manage their patients’ pain without any unintended consequences.”
Topics will included balancing optimal pain relieve and preventing inappropriate use of opioid analgesics. Subject matter specialists will provide content focused on prescribing and dispensing protocols for opioids, screening and support for high-risk patients as well as community support and resources.
Drug Free Manatee partnered with Central Florida Behavioral Health Network Inc. and the Florida Department of Children and Families to implement this program.
The courses will be offered to nurses, residents and doctors in February.
In addition, Drug Free Manatee will be sponsoring a community-based luncheon series called Project 180: Strong Voices/Strong Subjects, a monthly lecture series focusing on addiction awareness. The price of admission is $30 including lunch, however Drug Free Manatee is offering scholarships for hardships associated with admission. (For more information about how to become involved with Project 180, contact Barbara Richards at ).
The physician course and lecture series are part of larger campaign spearheaded by Drug Free Manatee earlier this year. Coined the Addiction Crisis Taskforce (ACT), Drug Free Manatee’s initiative convened community members to address the multi-faceted overdose crisis plaguing Manatee County.
The taskforce was a collaboration between the coalition, public health, clinical medicine and public safety at every level. ACT spanned eight domains addressing the primary drivers of abuse and overdose: surveillance, drug abuse prevention, patient and public education, provider education, clinical practice tools. Regulatory and oversight activities drug abuse treatment and overdose prevention.
Drug Free Manatee already has unused prescription pill dispensaries at all local law enforcement offices in Manatee County as well as the New College Police headquarters in Sarasota.
The Manatee County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition (Drug Free Manatee) was founded in 2001. It is a 501C3 and receives grant support from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy/Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration for Drug Free Communities Support Program, the Florida Department of Children and Families and through local contributions.