Community Activation, Collaboration, and Communication

The final speaker was Nick Hagemeier, PharmD, PhD, Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice at East Tennessee State University shared his research experience on drug abuse prevention and insight into coalition involvement and next steps for policy and practice advancement to reduce substance abuse and misuse. His presentation entitled “Community Activation, Collaboration, and Communication” took JCPP member organization representatives on a journey through his experience in the field of substance abuse disorder treatment and advocacy. Hagemeier spoke about his role with the Prescription Drug Abuse Working Group, which has an interprofessional focus with monthly meetings on-campus and at community-based sites. The working group has developed multiple products through active involvement. Some of the products include: Coordination of Regional Task Force on Naloxone 75+ Educational Presentations to Stakeholders Continuing Medical Education Collaboration NIH/NIDA – funded DIDARP Research Team Health System Collaboration: Overmountain Recovery Services (MAT) Collaboration to promote storage and disposal on campus Hagemeier then discussed the work of the ETSU Center for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment. The Center encompasses four main areas: Administration Core, Patient Care, Education & Outreach, and Research & Evaluation. From these core areas, more detailed work with state contracts, proposals for research, health professions education, clinical training curricula, counseling services, opioid treatment program management, dissemination of products, policy and advocacy, partnership, and dissemination of products occur. Hagemeier shared media articles on the implementation of work from the Center and highlighted how the work of the Center impacts each phase of the timeline of opioid use disorder from non-use to death. In closing, Hagemeier took the attendees back to school and walked through multiple case studies that highlight the research initiatives of the Center. One case study of note highlighted a pharmacist’s comfort in dispensing buprenorphine / naloxone, which noted only around half would dispense these items and even less would discuss addiction treatment goals with patients. He recapped the multiple policy, education, and practice issues that he has experienced and noted that much more work is needed to provide patients with adequate prevention and treatment programs