PDA Key Player Working with State and Other Stakeholders in Combating Opioid Abuse Crisis
Opioid abuse affects one in four families in Pennsylvania. Overdose deaths have increased by 470 percent over the past two decades. In 2014, nearly 2,500 Pennsylvanians died from a drug overdose. That means these overdoses kill almost 7 Pennsylvanians every day.
PDA participates in several task forces and collaborates with other stakeholders on initiatives aimed at providing the health care community with the resources it needs to combat the opioid addiction crisis.
As a committed stakeholder in educating the provider community and patients about the inherent dangers and risks associated with prescription drug abuse, PDA supports continual evaluation of opioid prescribing practices in dental settings and provider education in regards to the amount patients typically need for adequate pain relief, and how best to monitor and assist patients who are at risk. As a tripartite organization, PDA aligns closely with the American Dental Association (ADA), which has devoted a significant amount of resources to educating members about model opioid prescribing practices and the public about the dangers of prescription opioid abuse.