Forum to Take Local Look at the Opioid Epidemic

  • August 01, 2018

Deputy Darren De Jong, corrections sergeant at the Brookings County Sheriff’s Department, removes a medication bottle from the prescription drop off box located inside the sheriff’s office. The prescription drop off box, which prevents unused medication from being sold on the black market, will be one resource discussed at the Brookings Community Opioid Guardianship Forum which aims to shine a local spotlight on the national opioid epidemic. The event will be held on August 16 at the Brookings City & County Government building. All regional community members are welcome to attend the free event.
Deputy Darren De Jong, corrections sergeant at the Brookings County Sheriff’s Department, removes a medication bottle from the prescription drop off box located inside the sheriff’s office. The prescription drop off box, which prevents unused medication from being used recreationally, will be one resource discussed at the Brookings Community Opioid Guardianship Forum which aims to shine a local spotlight on the national opioid epidemic. The event will be held on August 16 at the Brookings City & County Government building. All regional community members are welcome to attend the free event.

Brookings Health System is partnering with the Brookings County States Attorney, Brookings County Sheriff, Avera Medical Group, South Dakota State University, Hy-Vee Pharmacy, East Central Behavioral Health, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Hauffe Dental Clinic, and Animal Medical Care to shine a local spotlight on the national opioid epidemic.

The Brookings Community Opioid Guardianship Forum will be held on Thursday, Aug. 16 at the Brookings City & County Government Center inside the Chambers, Room 310. Two one-hour long sessions will be held starting at 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. respectively. All regional community members are welcome to attend the free event. No registration is required.

“According to the CDC, 115 Americans die every day from opioid overdose, either from prescription or illicit drugs. People living in rural areas have been identified as at higher risk for prescription opioid abuse and overdose,” said Quality Director Sandra Ruesch, RN, organizer of the Brookings Community Opioid Guardianship Forum. “Brookings Health’s goals for the forum are top-of-mind awareness of the problem for our community; addiction prevention; and identifying resources and actions our community can take to fight the epidemic head on.”

Each session will include an introduction about the impact the national opioid crisis plays at a local level in the Brookings area. A panel discussion featuring law enforcement officials, health care providers, and chemical dependency personnel will follow. Panel topics will focus on upstream prevention and appropriate prescribing; addiction, treatment, and relapse prevention; and diversion prevention/medication disposal. Both sessions will conclude with an audience question and answer period.

Attendees will also be able to pick up resource materials at the event.

About Brookings Health System

Brookings Health System, located in Brookings, South Dakota, includes a 49-bed hospital, the 79-bed The Neighborhoods at Brookview nursing home, Brookhaven Estates senior living apartments, Yorkshire Eye Clinic, and medical clinics in Arlington, White and Volga, South Dakota. It is a non-profit, city-owned facility that offers the community a full range of inpatient, outpatient, surgical and extended care services. The emergency room is staffed 24 hours a day and provides around the clock patient needs ranging from minor injuries to life threatening crises. For more information about the services offered at Brookings Health System, please call (605) 696-9000 or visit us on the Web at brookingshealth.org.