KENTUCKY PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT
I received this email at 9:56 AM this morning (Friday).. with a recommendation that community pharmacies and other healthcare professionals – STOCK UP – on Naloxone for the Labor Day weekend.. Most community pharmacies get wholesaler deliveries daily Mon – Fri and the cut off for Friday’s delivery is normally around 6 PM YESTERDAY ( Thursday) and the stores will not get another wholesaler delivery until TUESDAY… Sure looks like Kentucky Emergency Management System is right on top of things…???
The Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) is hosting a special conference call today with medical personnel and emergency responders regarding the ongoing issue of heroin overdoses linked to fentanyl. The call is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. EDT, Friday, September 2, for interested pharmacists and other health care professionals. The dial-in number is 866-570-4047. The passcode is 75613975#.
Our region and our entire state are now threatened by a drug issue related to the appearance of contaminated heroin, typically mixed with fentanyl or other toxic substances. This is a very serious public health issue tied to a number of overdoses, hospitalizations and deaths across the country.
Over the upcoming days, DPH is asking our hospitals, pharmacies and EMS to help prepare for increases in drug overdoses so that individuals can be properly treated, deaths prevented and we all can be better informed about the prevalence and nature of these occurrences so they can be prevented. We expect a possible increase in overdoses over this holiday weekend. EMS, ER, and pharmacies must stock up on naloxone immediately. KDPH is getting early reports that it now requires as much as three-fold the ordinary dose of naloxone to negate this newly compounded material. These points will all be discussed in greater detail during today’s call.
If you need assistance, you can contact the Kentucky Emergency Management System at (502) 607-1638 Toll Free: (800) 255-2587, your local health department, or the Department for Public Health at 1-888-9REPORT (973-7678).
AGENDA
Public Health Alert Conference Call
Friday, September 2, 2016
11:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. EDT
Joining the Conference Call:
Prior to call start time, call the Dial-In Number: (866) 570-4047
Provide the Passcode: 75613975
TOPIC PRESENTER
Welcome and Overview Rick Johnson, BS (Facilitator)
Opening Remarks Hiram Polk, MD, Commissioner
Heroin/Fentanyl Current Situation Van Ingram, Office of Drug Control Policy
Medication Supply Plans, Training and Certification Programs Leah Tolliver, Pharm. D., Director of Pharmacy Emergency Preparedness, KPhA
Call to Action Hiram Polk, MD, Commissioner
Question and Answers – Next Steps All Participants
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Kentucky Pharmacists Association
96 C. Michael Davenport Blvd.
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601
www.kphanet.org
502-227-2303
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Filed under: General Problems
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