‘The Opioid Epidemic: Empowering Community Action’ looks at front-line response to national health crisis    

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. (Jan. 31, 2019) – The nation’s opioid epidemic has claimed far too many lives in the United States. Recognizing that, the AMA Alliance, in collaboration with the American Medical Association, is focusing its efforts and attention on educating its network of physician families and communities about what they can do to help put a stop to this deadly trend.

In a unique communications partnership, the AMAA and ITN Productions produced a current affairs-style program designed to raise awareness of effective practices communities are using to stem and reverse the epidemic.

“The Opioid Epidemic: Empowering Community Action,” which debuted Thursday, aims to highlight the commitment of the government, nonprofits, universities and AMA Alliance community to work toward solutions for patients. That includes enhanced comprehensive treatment and support for people with substance-use disorders, as well public education and training that tackles the epidemic with a focus on ending the stigma and misconceptions associated with such disorders.

The Emergency Nurses Association is proud to have partnered with the AMA Alliance for a segment that highlights the role of emergency nurses as a front-line resource combatting the opioid epidemic on the ground and in local communities.

The segment, “Front Line Resource Combating the Opioid Epidemic: ENA” features the emergency department and ENA members at St. Joseph’s Health in Paterson, New Jersey, where its Alternatives to Opioids program resulted in an 85-percent decrease in opioid prescriptions. It also inspired recently passed ENA-supported federal legislation which makes the program a model for other emergency departments to follow as they seek to curb the opioid epidemic.

“Without a doubt, opioids are an everyday concern in emergency departments across the United States. It was an honor for ENA to partner with the AMA Alliance on this project to show how emergency nurses are playing a key role in treating and supporting patients with substance-use disorders,” said ENA President Patricia Kunz Howard, PhD, RN, CEN, CPEN, TCRN, NE-BC, FAEN, FAAN.

Recognizing how far the opioid epidemic has spread and the impact it has on emergency departments, ENA launched its Opioid Bundle this month to provide comprehensive educational materials – such as online CE courses – and other resources, including recently published articles and the ENA opioid toolkit, to help health care providers better manage this ongoing national health crisis.

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About The AMA Alliance

In 1922 the American Medical Association established the AMA Alliance as an allied organization to provide influence and grassroots operations to promote health and physician related initiatives. This strong relationship between the AMA Alliance and the AMA continues today. The AMA, with the support of the AMA Alliance, works to enhance the delivery of care and enable physicians and health teams to partner with patients to achieve better health. Today, the AMA Alliance is the largest organization in the United States representing the American physician family. Its membership is composed of physician, resident and medical students’ spouses, domestic partners and significant others. Learn more about the AMA Alliance at www.amaalliance.org.

About ITN Productions

World-leading news producer ITN, the UK’s leading provider of independent broadcast news, has brought its unique issue specific news-style programing to the U.S. designed for voluntary associations. Industry News is produced by ITN Productions, a division of ITN, and is developed in partnership with leading bodies and national associations as a means of providing constructive, accurate and positive story telling in a compelling news-style; about particular issues, sectors and professions. For more information visit: www.itnproductions.com