PBH Module 9

Host

Mental health conditions, history of substance use, previous overdose, trauma, and social isolation

Agent

Opioids, including fentanyl, heroin, and prescription pain medications

Environment

Poverty, unemployment, limited healthcare access, stigma, unsafe living conditions, and lack of social support.

First wave (1990s)

Overdose deaths increased due to prescription opioids, such as oxycodone and hydrocodone.

Second wave

Deaths increased due to heroin.

Third wave

Deaths increased significantly due to synthetic opioids, especially illegally manufactured fentanyl.

Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs

Track controlled-substance prescriptions to help identify potentially unsafe prescribing patterns.

Naloxone distribution programs

Make overdose-reversal medication more accessible.

Good Samaritan laws

Protect people who seek emergency help during an overdose.

Medication-assisted treatment

Uses medications and counseling to help people with opioid use disorder.

Syringe services programs

Provide access to sterile supplies and health services to reduce infection risks.

Public education campaigns

Teach people about overdose prevention and recognizing emergencies.

Naloxone (Narcan)

A medication used to rapidly reverse opioid overdoses by blocking the effects of opioids at receptor sites.

Safe injection sites

Locations where individuals can use drugs under medical supervision to minimize health risks and provide access to health services and addiction treatment.

Naloxone Access Laws

Allow pharmacists to provide naloxone through standing orders or other arrangements without requiring an individual prescription for each person. Some laws also protect people who administer it.

Good Samaritan Laws

Protect people who call 911 for someone experiencing an overdose from certain drug-possession charges. This encourages people to seek emergency medical assistance instead of being afraid of legal consequences.

Harm Reduction

Refers to policies and programs designed to reduce the negative health and social consequences of risky behaviors without requiring someone to stop the behavior completely.

Means restriction

A suicide prevention strategy that limits access to things that could be used to cause a fatal injury.

Compare lethality of suicide methods

Lethality refers to how likely an attempt is to result in death. Different methods have significantly different levels of lethality.

Substitution

The idea that if someone cannot access one method of suicide, they might switch to another method.

Extreme Risk Protective Order (ERPO) is and how it relates to suicide prevention.

An Extreme Risk Protective Order (ERPO) is a temporary civil court order that restricts a person who is considered a danger to themselves or others from possessing or purchasing firearms.

Define suicide magnet and give an example.

A specific location that attracts people experiencing suicidal thoughts and has become associated with repeated suicides.

EX: The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco is a historically recognized example.