IDAHO OFFICE OF DRUG POLICY
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| April is National Alcohol Awareness Month |
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Here are three ways to get involved
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This April is Alcohol Awareness Month. Founded and sponsored by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD) since 1987, this year's theme is: "Talk Early, Talk Often: Parents Can Make a Difference in Teen Alcohol Use."
Here are three ways to get involved:
1. Be the Parents 30-Day Challenge. We know that strong family relationships help mitigate risk for underage drinking. Be the Parents 30-Day Challenge is a fun list of simple ways for parents to spend one-on-one time with their children. Download the form and try to complete as many of these family activities as possible during the month of April. If you don't have school-aged kids, share with parents you know!
Access the PDF here.
2. Write a letter to the editor of your local paper. Inform your community about Alcohol Awareness Month and share reasons why it is important to continue to draw attention to the issue of underage drinking.
Use our template to get started.
3. Host a SAMHSA-sponsored Communities Talk Event. And register to receive a $750 planning stipend! E
very two years, SAMHSA distributes planning stipends to community-based organizations, institutions of higher education, and statewide or state-based organizations to host events that educate youth, families, and communities about the potentially harmful consequences of underage and problem drinking among individuals 12 to 25 years old. Prevention is working! Help continue the downward trend in underage drinking by planning to host or attend a meeting in your area. Click here to learn more about the stipend.
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PFS Spotlight: Law Enforcement Grantees
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| Madison, Jefferson, and Fremont County Sheriff's Offices |
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Sheriff's Deputies from Madison, Jefferson, and Fremont counties are busy working together to keep our kids healthy and make our communities safe. They are conducting parent presentations on underage drinking, marijuana, and methamphetamine in addition to compliance checks, party patrols, and interdiction activities as part of efforts to prevent substance abuse and misuse in their counties.
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Parent-Teacher Night at
Madison High School
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The three counties used grant funding to purchase retractable posters that are used in their presentations. The posters allow the officers to provide a visual reference to accompany the information they provide, including what parents should look for. According to Cameron Stanford, Madison County Sheriff Captain, he was "surprised how many people talked to [the officers] and asked questions," showing that informing and educating play an important role in prevention.
Additionally, the Sheriff's Offices were able to purchase much-needed equipment with grant funds. This includes FC20's which are handheld breathalyzer instruments capable of detecting and reporting blood alcohol content.
Jefferson County, the major recipient of the FC20, received six units so that their officers could be more effective while working on the grant, as well as their regular shifts, when dealing with underage drinkers. Previously, Jefferson County only had one for the jail and one for all of patrol.
Captain Stafford said he typically sees underage consumption increase with the weather warming up and school ending in a few months, and having this grant will give the three counties more manpower and equipment to better enforce underage drinking and drug laws.
The three County Sheriff's Offices are recipients of the Partnerships for Success (PFS) Law Enforcement Grant. PFS Law Enforcement grantees are funded for overtime and equipment to implement effective law enforcement techniques for preventing underage drinking, marijuana use, and methamphetamine use in Idaho. The FY20 PFS Law Enforcement Grant application will open next month and details will be published in our April newsletter.
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Idaho Conference on Alcohol and Drug Dependency (ICADD) Scholarships
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The Idaho Office of Drug Policy (ODP) is pleased to offer scholarships for the 2019 Idaho Conference on Alcohol and Drug Dependency (ICADD), May 14-16, 2019.
ODP will offer up to four (4) ICADD scholarships per DHW region to be selected in the order received. Priority will be given to those currently pursuing CPS certification, followed by those receiving SFY2019 grant funds through ODP.
The scholarship will consist of the registration fees
: three day rate of $260.00. Early-Bird Conference Registration ONLY.
In addition to the registration fee, recipients from Regions 1,2,6 and 7 will each receive a $600.00 stipend and recipients from Region 5 will each receive a $550.00 stipend to help with costs associated with the conference , such as travel, lodging and per diem.
Recipients from
Region 3 will each receive a $100.00 stipend and recipients from Region 4 will each receive a $50.00 stipend to help with the costs associated with the conference, such as travel, and per diem.
The stipend will be paid on the last day of the conference upon receipt of a STAMPED ICADD REGISTRANT AGENDA AND VERIFICATION OF HOURS FORM documenting full participation in the conference.
DEADLINE: Applications must be received at ODP by 5:00 PM MST, March 19, 2019.
Step 1: The Application Process:
Step 2: Conference Registration Process:
- Those receiving scholarships will be sent a registration code specific to ODP to complete their on-line registration on the ICADD website.
Scholarships are non-transferrable.
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| Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Waiver Training for Providers |
| Offered by Project ECHO Idaho |
Prescribing medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to help people reduce or quit their use of heroin or other opiates, such as pain relievers, is carefully regulated. Qualified physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants are required to acquire a MAT DATA waiver and maintain certifications to legally dispense or prescribe opioid dependency medications. This training may cost providers $200 and is often taken on-line since in-person
training
is rare.
Because Idaho desperately needs more providers to offer this important treatment in their practice, ECHO Idaho is hosting a free MAT DATA waiver training Tuesday, April 23 from 12:30 - 5:00pm MT for physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. The training, led by Dr. Alicia Carrasco, Dr. Magni Hamso, and Dr. Todd Palmer of Boise, will be offered in two parts: an initial live 4-hour seminar April 23rd you join using video conferencing, followed by online modules you complete on your own.
Both portions of the training are free and approved for 8 credits of CME. Physicians who complete the training will qualify for the waiver to prescribe and dispense buprenorphine. Nurse practitioners and physicians assistants will also qualify for the waiver after an additional 16 hours of training.
Participants can join with Zoom video conferencing from anywhere in the state but must be able to join using a webcam.
Please share with any physicians you know who may be interested.
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Bill Tracker Updated Daily
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In our last newsletter we shared that Governor Little signed House Bill 12 into law providing clarifying language that encourages providers and healthcare systems to implement naloxone outreach programs. Since then, there have not been any bills that ODP considers high-profile transmitted to the Governor for signature.
House Bill 122 relating to Hemp was printed and referred to the Agricultural Affairs Committee on 2/12. There had been no movement until today, 3/14. The committee held a vote and with one nay vote the bill will be reported out of committee with a do pass recommendation.
ODP is closely following House Bill 78, House Bill 99, and House Bill 180 as they move through the legislature.
House Bill 78 creates an optional DUI diversion program that prosecuting attorneys may use in cases involving first time DUI offenders. It was passed by the house on 3/4 and of 3/14 is with the Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee.
House Bill 99-Mandatory Minimums removes the word mandatory from current law and
provides for judicial discretion in such sentencing in instances where the prescribed minimum sentence would result in a manifest injustice, and where the prescribed minimum sentence is not deemed necessary for the protection of the public. It was passed by the house on 3/4 and as of 3/14 is with the Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee.
House Bill 180-Syringe and Needle Exchange Act allows an entity to operate a syringe and needle exchange program in Idaho if such entity complies with the provisions of the bill. An "entity" is defined as " (a) The department; (b) A government entity; or (c) A private organization, whether for profit or nonprofit." The bill also requires the entity operating an exchange to provide options for obtaining substance use disorder treatment and an opioid antagonist, e.g., naloxone. On 3/12 it was reported out of committee with a do pass recommendation and read for a second time on 3/13.
Senate Bill 1161 was introduced on 3/5 and referred to the Judiciary and Rules Committee. It amends existing law to revise penalties for trafficking in heroin such that the minimum quantity involved to be considered trafficking is raised from 2 grams to 5 grams and the next "tier" has been raised from 7 grams to 10 grams with a reduced mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years.
The third tier remains at 28 grams or more but the mandatory minimum sentence has been reduced from 15 to 10 years.
It also provides penalties for trafficking in fentanyl which were not previously established. The previous thresholds for the three tiers of mandatory minimum sentences for trafficking in heroin have now been applied to fentanyl, such that the minimum amount is now 2 grams. The mandatory minimum sentences mirror those for heroin. According to the Statement of Purpose, "These changes will help provide that the trafficking statutes are applied to those participating in drug distribution and sales instead of those engaging solely in personal use."
ODP continues to closely track policy relevant to substance abuse prevention and treatment and we update our
legislative bill tracker daily. The tracker contains links to the bill text, a brief description of the bill, sponsors, status, and upcoming agenda items if published in advance.
It can be accessed t
hrough the
ODP home page
under Policy or
click here
for a direct link to the tracker.
ODP encourages you to reach out to committees and stay involved during the legislative session.
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Naloxone Mini-Grant Program
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Currently accepting requests
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The Office of Drug Policy (ODP) is currently accepting requests for its Naloxone Mini-Grant Program. The purpose of the program is to reduce the incidence of morbidity and mortality related to opioid overdoses in communities in Idaho through the purchase and placement of naloxone, an opioid antagonist used to rapidly reverse the effects of opioid overdoses.
ODP has received grant funding for the purchase and distribution of naloxone kits (each kit contains 2 doses of 4mg Naloxone Nasal Spray) to first responders and eligible agencies, prioritizing areas of the state of Idaho with the highest overdose death rates as well as the highest number of overdose deaths.
Agencies eligible under this mini-grant program are:
- First Responders: Law Enforcement, Fire, and EMS
- Corrections
- Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Support Agencies
- Crisis Centers
- Homeless Shelters
- Hospital Emergency Departments
Agencies may: store or have employees carry naloxone with the intent to administer to any individual they encounter who is experiencing an opioid overdose; or distribute to clients, patients, and individuals being released from correctional facilities who are at risk of an overdose, as well as their friends and family.
Funding will be available until
September 30, 2019
or until supplies run out. Agencies that receive naloxone through this mini-grant program will be asked to provide brief, online, quarterly reports.
To submit a naloxone request, click the link below:
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The Idaho Office of Drug Policy leads Idaho's substance abuse policy and prevention efforts by developing and implementing strategic action plans and collaborative partnerships to reduce drug use and related crime, thereby improving the health and safety of all Idahoans.
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304 N. 8th Street Boise, ID
Phone: (208) 854-3040
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