Title: Describe the history of opioids in Virginia.
Course: Sports Medicine/Athletic Training II (14062-II) > Section: Examining Opioids

Description should include

- the experience in Virginia regarding opioid use mirrors that of the United States
- Virginia-based trends and demographic information
- the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Declaration of a Public Health Emergency, November 21, 2016
  - Statewide Standing Order for Naloxone and Other Opioid Reversal Agents, March 5, 2024
  - REVIVE!, Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS)
- legislation to address the crisis in Virginia (i.e., House Bill 2161 and Senate Bill 1179, which require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to convene a workgroup to establish educational guidelines for training healthcare providers in the safe prescribing and appropriate use of opioids)
- the development and impact of Virginia’s Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) as a near “real-time” central database containing information used primarily by healthcare providers to better inform treatment and dispensing decisions
- the development of public awareness campaigns (e.g., One Pill Can Kill, Revive! Opioid Overdose and Naloxone Education [OONE], Rx Awareness)
- the development of curricula and educational standards regarding opioid addiction.

Teacher Resource: Fatal Drug Overdose Trends (Quarterly Drug Death Reports), Office of the Medical Examiner, VDH

Process/Skill Questions:

- When did Virginia begin to see a surge in opioid overdose? What educational organizations will be tasked with providing opioid training to their students?
- What is the benefit of educating future medical professionals about opioid addiction?
- What is the current attitude in society about opioid use and addiction?
- How are local communities affected by the opioid epidemic?