Over the course of nearly two decades, Omaha drug possession lawyer Daniel Stockmann has covered many cases related to opioids and prescription drugs. Oxycodone, hydrocodone, and fentanyl are often prescribed to patients dealing with pain. However, in addition to causing legal issues for people, State Attorney General Doug Peterson reports that every third day someone in Nebraska dies from drug overdose. For this reason, several agencies that hosted the Nebraska Opioid Summit at University of Nebraska Medical Center near the end of last year started the “Dose of Reality” campaign.
Several Groups Hope to End Opioid Abuse
Initiated by the U.S. Attorney General’s Office for The District of Nebraska, Department of Health and Human Services, Nebraska Attorney General’s Office, and a number of other Nebraska associations, the group aims to prevent opioid abuse. The Surgeon General’s report released on November 17th demonstrates the urgency of the situation. For example, in 2014, 47,055 drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States. Of those deaths, 61% were a result of prescription opioids and heroin use. Heroin overdoses have more than tripled from 2010 to 2014, and are more than five times higher in 2014 than they were 10 years ago. In order to put an end to this, "Dose of Reality" has been created. It’s a coalition of experts, practitioners, and leaders in treatment, prevention, and law enforcement whose strategic purpose is to collaborate to reduce the occurrence of abuse of prescription and opioid drugs in Nebraska.
“Dose of Reality” has a Three-Tiered Plan
There are three areas that “Dose of Reality” plans to target to address the opioid problem: prevention, treatment, and law enforcement.
Prevention: This step focuses on educating opioid prescribers and dispensers on best practices and requirements for Nebraska’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. They will also bolster public awareness of opportunities for prescription drug take-back, and promote awareness of opioid abuse through its own advertising campaigns, school presentations, and other different forums.
Treatment: The main focus of the treatment plan will be expanding the number of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) providers for opioid use disorder. The treatment plan will also provide training for health profession students and providers on evidence-based diagnosis, and treatment of pain and opioid use disorders. It will also reduce barriers for treating opioid use disorders in primary care settings.
Law Enforcement: They will partner with the Drug Enforcement Administration and develop a “DEA 360” program in Nebraska, make Naloxone (a drug that saves lives during opioid overdoses) more readily available, and will provide training for law enforcement.
Speak with a Skilled Omaha Drug Possession Lawyer
If you or someone close to you has been charged with drug possession, don’t risk freedom; call someone with experience in the field. Omaha drug possession lawyer Daniel Stockmann has nearly 20 years of experience in similar cases and provides custom defense strategies suited for each case. Call (402) 884-1031 to schedule your consultation today.
