Rx Summit Spotlight: Strong Interagency Collaboration Essential to Combat Crisis

At the start of this decade, Colorado ranked second in the nation in self-reported non-medical use of prescription opioids—a distressing statistic that led to an innovative prevention effort. At this month's National Rx Drug Abuse and Heroin Summit in Atlanta, a leader of that initiative will discuss how the Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention has helped to reshape interagency cooperation in the state.

Robert Valuck, PhD, director of the consortium and a professor of clinical pharmacy at the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy, recently spoke with Behavioral Healthcare Executive about advocacy strategies that have produced impactful legislation and have enhanced treatment options for persons with opioid use disorders. Valuck is co-presenting his April 24 workshop session with José Esquibel, director of the Office of Community Engagement in the Colorado Attorney General's office.

Editor's note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

How did Colorado structure its response to the burgeoning opioid problem at the start of the decade?

The first question we asked is, “Where does this go?” Should it be in public health, in behavioral health? Do you create an office? We have an independent 501(c)(3) that took charge of this. It's an interagency structure involving state agency people, universities, medical treatment, substance use treatment, prevention, peer assistance. The directive from our governor at the time (now presidential candidate John Hickenlooper) was, “Please cooperate.”

We don't organize by sector, but by lever, like public awareness, provider education, safe disposal, naloxone awareness, which is morphing into harm reduction, treatment, recovery, data, the prescription drug monitoring program. I think this has been critical.

Was getting legislation passed a primary goal of the consortium?

We didn't come in the door saying we were doing this so we can get laws passed, but the relationships we had with legislators made this happen. In 2017, five of six bills that got introduced passed, in areas such as prevention, improved medical care and payment reform.

We put money into provider education, on how not to prescribe so many opioids and how to get more people into treatment. We went from 23rd to 3rd in two years in the number of waivered buprenorphine prescribers. Nobody jumps 20 spots.

What are some of the consortium's priorities this year?

We want to increase the awareness and uptake of naloxone. There will be a public awareness campaign at the state level. The public needs to see this as a form of resuscitation. Don't judge people—just save somebody. We also want to do more on the treatment gap. In Colorado, it's about 70%, and we want to get to 50% by next year.

What do you see as some of the keys to successful cross-sector collaboration to combat the opioid epidemic?

Leadership has to be strong. The governor has to say this is a top priority. The attorney general has to say it as well. The message has to be, “We need to do this.”

In collaboration, you have to check your ego at the door, and check your ownership at the door. Everyone's got a role. There's plenty of room in the sandbox for all of us. This means not fighting over every dollar. Finally, don't take no for an answer.”

The Rx Drug Abuse & Heroin Summit, April 22-25 in Atlanta, is where solutions are formulated, stakeholders from Federal to family convene, and change begins. It is the annual gathering for stakeholders to discuss what's working in prevention and treatment. For more information, visit rx-summit.com