Cincinnati Youth Win Poster Contest to Fight Opioid Epidemic
Date: 07/07/20
Buckeye Health Plan Announces OpiEnd™ Youth Challenge Contest Winners
Four Cincinnati youth won $250 each as winners of the OpiEnd™ Youth Challenge poster contest, sponsored by Buckeye Health Plan. Anna Autenrieb, Bella Maxfield, Josie DePaoli and Veronica Wellbrock from Our Lady of Lourdes School in Cincinnati developed artwork to raise awareness about opioid misuse and addiction.
In 2017, Ohio had the second-highest opioid overdose reported deaths in the U.S. — almost triple the national average.1 Prescription opioids are a significant contributor, accounting for 22 percent of the 4,293 Ohio opioid overdose reported deaths in 2017.1 Youth in the Cincinnati area took steps to address these startling statistics by participating in OpiEnd targeted curriculum to raise awareness about opioid misuse and prevention.
The national challenge, implemented at the local level by Buckeye Health Plan, provides lessons and resources for teachers and students to discuss addiction and opioid misuse. Students were invited to design a poster that shares an original innovative idea and creativity identifies ways to become part of the solution to the opioid crisis. Poster entries were judged at national and state levels for prizes and awards.
Learning about opioids, and the dangers of misuse, empowers youth to stand up and make a difference,” said Dr. Alvin Pelt, Buckeye Health Plan Medical Director and one of the judges of the challenge. “The poster challenge entries show the youths’ deep understanding of the impact of opioids on their community and their determination to take steps to address this epidemic.”
The OpiEnd Youth Challenge is one example of Buckeye’s opiate prevention programs and services. Buckeye promotes healthier, safer use of medications and supports those struggling with addiction.
Here are examples of Buckeye’s substance abuse prevention and treatment programs:
- New Leaf supports high-risk, pregnant members through Medication-Assisted Therapy (MAT) along with coverage for outpatient therapies, counseling and support. The program has contributed to a reduction in the length of hospital stays for opioid-dependent babies by 41 percent and helped reduce the percentage of preterm deliveries substantially, coming in below the state average of 10.3 percent for the last six years.
- Pharmacy Lock-in Program prevents Buckeye members who abuse opioids from filling duplicate prescriptions by “pharmacy shopping.” Under this program, the number of opioid prescriptions for Buckeye members has decreased significantly by 66.9 percent between 2018 and 2019.
- Medication Therapy Management Program equips pharmacists with the tools to educate members on how to use their medications properly through targeted interventions and comprehensive medication reviews at point-of-service. Pharmacists provide patients with in-depth medication-related education, consultation and advice to help assure proper use. The program has served 10,608 members at 983 participating pharmacies.
- BuckeyeRxPlus is a customized prescription management program that successfully increases medication adherence, reduces costs and improves health outcomes for members who take 10+ medications daily or have a high-cost chronic disease. The program has improved members’ medication adherence rates by nearly 100 percent.
Visit BuckeyeHealthPlan.com for additional resources to combat opioid misuse.
Sources:
[1] National Institute on Drug Abuse. Opioid Involved Overdose Deaths. March 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.drugabuse.gov/opioid-summaries-by-state/ohio-opioid-summary