Staff from the Phoenix VA Health Care System reached out to Veterans and family members today to provide information and assistance as part of the International Overdose Awareness Day, which is officially recognized on Aug. 31.
As part of this event, Staff were available at the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center, the Phoenix 32nd Street VA Clinic, and the VA Community Resource and Referral Center.
“We are here to recognize International Overdose Awareness Day,” said Anita Karnik, MD, Phoenix VA Mental Health Addictions Section Chief. “This is an annual event and a campaign to remember without stigma those who have died from overdose. We invite Veterans to remember loved one they have lost.”
Veterans who visited any of three locations where this event was being held learned about the current dangers being faced in our comminates where more than 100,000 people died of drug overdose each year for 2021 – 2022. Dr. Karnik was joined by three other volunteers, Heidi Quist, PA acting Pain Management, Opioid Safety, and Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, Shannon Mentzel, Pharmacist, and Quin Johnson, a medical student.
“We are here to provide education to Veterans and staff about naloxone, and we prescribe naloxone kits for Veterans who are interested,” said Dr. Karnik. “We hope to spread awareness and education about the risks of overdose and how one can use naloxone and hope to educate healthcare clinicians on how they can talk to their patients and clients about naloxone. Together we can end overdose!
One Veteran, who did not want to be named, said they were glad this was there. They had a dose of naloxone from a year back, that they had, but hadn’t needed to use in that time. They were able to get a prescription and pick up a new dose from the VA Pharmacy there today.
VA provides effective, scientifically proven non-opioid pain management and substance use treatment for eligible Veterans, including complementary and integrative medicine, individual and group therapy.
On International Overdose Awareness Day, the day before Suicide Prevention Month in September, Phoenix VA urges Veterans to learn more about suicide prevention and drug overdose, managing pain without opioids and substance abuse treatment.
For immediate help call the VA Crisis Line by dialing 988 and press 1.
