Prescription drug abuse

Thursday, November 01, 2018 12:18 PM

Kate Alfano, CMS Communications Coordinator

CMS president presents at Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention annual meeting

The Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention held their annual meeting on Oct. 25 to bring together stakeholders to share and engage in the overall effort to combat the epidemic and contribute  knowledge and experience in pain management with and without opioids.

An educational event the evening before gave providers the opportunity to learn best practices for pain management and addiction treatment. Both events were held at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora.

CMS President Debra J. Parsons, MD, FACP, led one of the breakout sessions during the annual meeting. She discussed the recent convening of physicians from across the state from different specialties and practice settings to develop their perspective, ideas and an ultimate consensus on guideline development, as well as other physician activities and programs. Recommendations will be provided to the consortium as a future strategic pathway for medical professions that contributes to the reversal of the opioid crisis in Colorado.

At the annual meeting Parsons asked for ideas from the audience and reported receiving thoughtful responses with many common themes that aligned with the outcomes of the convening.

“Overall, the symposium was excellent; the 10 workgroups and staff of the consortium are doing amazing things,” she said. “The two-day meeting was a celebration of the good work and the good people making it all happen. It ended with a legislative discussion with Reps. Brittany Pettersen, Chris Kennedy and Jonathan Singer.”