VA pharmacy team addresses growing overdose problem

The Sheridan VA Health Care System is supporting a global effort to combat the growing cases of opioid overdoses. VA pharmacist Dr. Megan Ziegler, the Sheridan VAHCS coordinator for the system’s Pain Management, Opioid Safety, and Prescription Drug Monitoring Program and the Sheridan VA Pharmacy Chief, Dr. Kelly Moran agree the first step is education. 

The pharmacists and others at the Sheridan VA took notice of the growing overdose problem approximately four years ago and have been supporting efforts to educate and bring awareness to the problem since that time.

A drug overdose is a result of ingesting a drug or a combination of drugs in greater quantities than recommended and can lead to serious medical problems, including death.  

According to Moran and Ziegler, in only a year, in the Cowboy State alone there has been an 11% increase in drug overdose deaths from Feb. 2021 to Feb. 2022. There have been 110 deaths in Wyoming related to overdoses with 68 of these deaths being related to opioids. 

Opioids are critical in pain management, although many times a “band-aid” type of management. While appearing on Sheridan Meida’s Public Pulse program, Ziegler informed listeners of how opioids work with the body to control the level of pain being felt. 

The feeling of euphoria experienced when using opioid drugs is a side effect, not its intended purpose. Drugs do exist that fill these pain receptors but cause a reduced level of euphoria. These drugs are being embraced by the medical community but have not gained the popularity and mass use of classic opioid drugs. 

The Sheridan VA assigns a pain management team to patients who look at patient history and discuss options with veterans. The VA offers pain management options that do not involve opioid medications, such as acupuncture and sight injections. 

According to Moran, it can take as little as five days for a person to become addicted to an opioid drug, prompting teams to attempt other methods in pain management.  

Moran, Ziegler and the Sheridan VA pharmacy team are working to ensure community members know how they can make a difference and shift the tide of drug overdoses. 

The following are the team’s recommendations:

Recognize the signs and symptoms of drug overdoses. This includes blue lips/nails, shallow or no breathing, pinpoint pupils, and unable to be awakened. Different medications can cause different symptoms and it is important to call 911 if an overdose is suspected.

Stop the shaming. Destigmatizing drug-related deaths and raising awareness on the increasing rates of overdose will help those who need help come forward.

Dispose of unused or expired medications – contact your local pharmacy or police department for year-round medication disposal locations.

Remember that Naloxone saves lives. This is a medication that can reverse overdoses related to opioids. Naloxone kits are readily accessible through community pharmacies in Wyoming.

The VA would like the community to share encouragement to those you know. Recovery is possible—multiple medications exist to help patients who struggle with substance use disorders. They include Suboxone, naltrexone, and acamprosate.

To learn more about overdoses and symptoms, click here.