Bucks County Overdose Prevention and Education (BCOPE)

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Next BCOPE Meeting

Contact Melanie Swanson at mswanson@councilsepa.org for date and time of next meeting.

 

 

 

Help Prevent RX drug addiction: Dispose of your unused medication at the listed locations:  Interactive Map of Bucks County Locations

The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc. has been spearheading an initiative focused on overdose prevention and education. Nationwide, among people 25 to 64 years old, drug overdose caused more deaths than motor vehicle traffic crashes. This number has continually increased over the years and Bucks County is not immune to the nationwide trend. Bucks County and The Council has responded with the creation of the Bucks County Overdose Prevention and Education Collaborative(BCOPE).

The Problem Nationwide: Nearly 3 out of 4 prescription drug overdoses are due to prescription pain killers. According to the CDC, Drug overdose was the leading cause of injury death in 2013. There were 43,982 drug overdose deaths in the United States in 2013. Of these, 22,767 (51.8%) were realted to prescription drugs.

Every day in the United States, 44 people die as a result of prescription opioid overdose.^{Among those who died from prescription opioid overdose between 1999 and 2013, most were ages 25 to 54. This age group had the highest overdose rates compared to other age groups. However, the overdose rate for adults aged 55–64 increased more than seven-fold during this same time period.}

According to 2012 information from the Bucks County Coroner’s Office, there were 76 adverse reactions to drugs – all had either oxy, heroin, fentanyl or other opiates listed as one or more of the drugs causing the death. Of those deaths, 20 were specifically labeled as “overdose” : some of these are due to mixing prescription medication, some are individual opiates… to many to list.. There were 38 heroin “cause of death” , 4 fentanyl “cause of death" and 14 codeine “cause of death”.

There have been initiatives of varying levels in other states from education and awareness, to passing laws giving immunity to those responding to an overdose by calling 911 and establishing programs that distribute a lifesaving antidote to an opioid overdose. Pennsylvania and Bucks County are proud to join the growing list of States that have passed Good Samaritan / Access to Naloxone Laws, but this is only the begining. Access to TX, community education and reducing stigma are key parts to adressing the problem.

This site is a work in progress and will be updated regularly to include information on the progress of the Bucks County Overdose Prevention and Education Collaborative to include

If you would like to become involved in this initiative please contact Melanie Swanson, Prevention Specialist at 215-230-8218 x 3145 or mswanson@councilsepa.org

Bucks County Overdose Prevention and Education Collaborative

The BCOPE Collaborative is a group of committed individuals from diverse concentrations with a mission to educate others and save lives. The BCOPE Collaborative offers overdose prevention / education and naloxone administration presentations that provide information and education to identified organizations specific to each audience’s needs. The goal is to promote awareness and encourage further action. This outreach and education continues to adapt to the current environement and the reported use / abuse of opiate based drugs. Partnerships with the sectors of the community allow for increased community resiliency to the growing opiate drug problem.

Available Documents for Public regarding Naloxone access:

SAMHSA's Opioid Overdose Prevention Toolkit: Equipts communities and local governments with material to develop policies and practices to help prevent opioid-related overdoses and deaths. Addresses issues for first responders, treatment providers, and those recovering from opioid overdose.Click here for link

• • Resource for current news and information on Opiate use/abuse
    
  • PASTOP's Facts About Opioid Overdose Download PDF
  • Presentations: Contact David Fialko to schedule a training for your organization 
  • Education and information on drugs and overdose, and resources and references.
  • Not all doctors are aware of the Act 139. This document can be provided to your doctor to make them aware of ACT 139
    •  click here to download the form.
  • Naloxone adminisitration info sheet - Remember to Always Call 911 for all overdose situations!
    
    • Click here to downlaod the administration sheet.
  • New State Wide Standing Order & New Narcan OTC product
    • Narcan prescribing info
    • Narcan FDA approval for over the counter

This project is made possible by funding through the Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission, Inc.