WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:08.408 -- chasing titles at Thunder Road. Progress in the opiate 00:08.409 --> 00:09.477 Road. Progress in the opiate battle. Thanks for joining 00:09.476 --> 00:11.445 Progress in the opiate battle. Thanks for joining us. I’m Darren Perron. 00:11.445 --> 00:12.880 battle. Thanks for joining us. I’m Darren Perron. And I’m Celine McArthur. 00:12.880 --> 00:13.881 us. I’m Darren Perron. And I’m Celine McArthur. Thousands of people continue 00:13.881 --> 00:15.082 And I’m Celine McArthur. Thousands of people continue to die every year from opioid 00:15.082 --> 00:16.317 Thousands of people continue to die every year from opioid abuse in the United States -- 00:16.317 --> 00:17.985 to die every year from opioid abuse in the United States -- more than 40-thousand in 20-16 00:17.985 --> 00:20.855 abuse in the United States -- more than 40-thousand in 20-16 alone... But a new report 00:20.854 --> 00:22.055 more than 40-thousand in 20-16 alone... But a new report shows there may finally be 00:22.056 --> 00:23.925 alone... But a new report shows there may finally be real progress in slowing the 00:23.924 --> 00:25.325 shows there may finally be real progress in slowing the epidemic -- especially here in 00:25.326 --> 00:27.595 real progress in slowing the epidemic -- especially here in Vermont... Channel 3’s Avery 00:27.595 --> 00:28.629 epidemic -- especially here in Vermont... Channel 3’s Avery Powell has been pouring over 00:28.629 --> 00:29.997 Vermont... Channel 3’s Avery Powell has been pouring over the numbers all day.Avery, 00:29.997 --> 00:31.632 Powell has been pouring over the numbers all day.Avery, what did you find out? This 00:31.632 --> 00:32.533 the numbers all day.Avery, what did you find out? This report from the Blue Cross 00:32.533 --> 00:33.768 what did you find out? This report from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association 00:33.767 --> 00:35.102 report from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association focuses on opioid 00:35.102 --> 00:36.103 Blue Shield Association focuses on opioid prescriptions and abuse among 00:36.103 --> 00:38.839 focuses on opioid prescriptions and abuse among its members throughout the 00:38.839 --> 00:39.940 prescriptions and abuse among its members throughout the country. It found that Vermont 00:39.940 --> 00:41.175 its members throughout the country. It found that Vermont ranks FOURTH with New 00:41.175 --> 00:42.176 country. It found that Vermont ranks FOURTH with New Hampshire among states with 00:42.176 --> 00:43.711 ranks FOURTH with New Hampshire among states with the greatest reduction in 00:43.711 --> 00:44.512 Hampshire among states with the greatest reduction in opioid prescriptions 00:44.511 --> 00:45.746 the greatest reduction in opioid prescriptions rates...at a 41-percent 00:45.746 --> 00:48.983 opioid prescriptions rates...at a 41-percent decrease between 2013 and 2017. 00:48.983 --> 00:50.084 rates...at a 41-percent decrease between 2013 and 2017. That compares to a 00:50.084 --> 00:51.586 decrease between 2013 and 2017. That compares to a 29-percent decline nationwide. 00:51.585 --> 00:53.620 That compares to a 29-percent decline nationwide. Health professionals I talked 00:53.621 --> 00:54.622 29-percent decline nationwide. Health professionals I talked with today say this is all 00:54.622 --> 00:55.623 Health professionals I talked with today say this is all part of a trend as Vermont 00:55.623 --> 00:57.091 with today say this is all part of a trend as Vermont turns the corner on the opioid 00:57.091 --> 00:57.358 part of a trend as Vermont turns the corner on the opioid crisis. 00:57.358 --> 01:01.329 turns the corner on the opioid crisis. Opioid abuse remains a major 01:01.328 --> 01:02.429 crisis. Opioid abuse remains a major problem in the U-S, but there 01:02.429 --> 01:04.665 Opioid abuse remains a major problem in the U-S, but there might be some hope, especially 01:04.665 --> 01:06.233 problem in the U-S, but there might be some hope, especially for the Green Mountain State. 01:06.233 --> 01:07.167 might be some hope, especially for the Green Mountain State. ((1:20.31-1:20.35 Jackie 01:07.167 --> 01:08.702 for the Green Mountain State. ((1:20.31-1:20.35 Jackie Corbally "I am really proud of 01:08.702 --> 01:09.770 ((1:20.31-1:20.35 Jackie Corbally "I am really proud of Vermont. Vermont is in the 01:09.770 --> 01:11.238 Corbally "I am really proud of Vermont. Vermont is in the forefront in a lot of areas.") 01:11.238 --> 01:12.239 Vermont. Vermont is in the forefront in a lot of areas.") ) Jackie Corbally, the 01:12.239 --> 01:13.240 forefront in a lot of areas.") ) Jackie Corbally, the Opioid Policy Manager for the 01:13.240 --> 01:14.842 ) Jackie Corbally, the Opioid Policy Manager for the city of Bulington says Vermont 01:14.842 --> 01:15.743 Opioid Policy Manager for the city of Bulington says Vermont continues to be innovative 01:15.743 --> 01:17.245 city of Bulington says Vermont continues to be innovative when it comes to handling 01:17.244 --> 01:18.879 continues to be innovative when it comes to handling opioid abuse.((1:20.43-1:20.51 01:18.879 --> 01:20.080 when it comes to handling opioid abuse.((1:20.43-1:20.51 Jackie Corbally "We’re looking 01:20.080 --> 01:21.615 opioid abuse.((1:20.43-1:20.51 Jackie Corbally "We’re looking at alternativtherapies and 01:21.615 --> 01:22.649 Jackie Corbally "We’re looking at alternativtherapies and we’re really paying attention 01:22.650 --> 01:24.185 at alternativtherapies and we’re really paying attention to how is it that we need to 01:24.184 --> 01:25.118 we’re really paying attention to how is it that we need to support and work with those 01:25.119 --> 01:26.654 to how is it that we need to support and work with those who find themselves in the 01:26.654 --> 01:28.389 support and work with those who find themselves in the throws of an addictions.")) 01:28.389 --> 01:29.290 who find themselves in the throws of an addictions.")) Now, a new report from Blue 01:29.290 --> 01:30.858 throws of an addictions.")) Now, a new report from Blue Cross Blue Shield shows 01:30.858 --> 01:32.159 Now, a new report from Blue Cross Blue Shield shows Vermont physicians are 01:32.159 --> 01:32.826 Cross Blue Shield shows Vermont physicians are prescribing fewer opioids as 01:32.826 --> 01:33.960 Vermont physicians are prescribing fewer opioids as the Center for Disease Control 01:33.961 --> 01:35.763 prescribing fewer opioids as the Center for Disease Control released new guidelines as did 01:35.763 --> 01:37.064 the Center for Disease Control released new guidelines as did the state of Vermont, which 01:37.064 --> 01:39.700 released new guidelines as did the state of Vermont, which assigned a specific dosage 01:39.700 --> 01:41.335 the state of Vermont, which assigned a specific dosage based on how severe the pain 01:41.335 --> 01:42.670 assigned a specific dosage based on how severe the pain is.((1:05:46-1:05:57 Dr. 01:42.670 --> 01:43.671 based on how severe the pain is.((1:05:46-1:05:57 Dr. Leffler "The opiate crisis has 01:43.671 --> 01:45.206 is.((1:05:46-1:05:57 Dr. Leffler "The opiate crisis has multiple parts, but the first 01:45.205 --> 01:46.807 Leffler "The opiate crisis has multiple parts, but the first part is to do safe reasonable 01:46.807 --> 01:47.875 multiple parts, but the first part is to do safe reasonable prescribing to help no new 01:47.875 --> 01:49.343 part is to do safe reasonable prescribing to help no new people become addicted to 01:49.343 --> 01:52.146 prescribing to help no new people become addicted to opitates from presiptions.") 01:52.146 --> 01:53.948 people become addicted to opitates from presiptions.") ) Doctor Stephen Leffler, 01:53.947 --> 01:55.649 opitates from presiptions.") ) Doctor Stephen Leffler, the chief population health 01:55.649 --> 01:56.650 ) Doctor Stephen Leffler, the chief population health and quality officer for the 01:56.650 --> 01:58.152 the chief population health and quality officer for the hospital network says in the 01:58.152 --> 02:00.721 and quality officer for the hospital network says in the last two years, UVMMC has cut 02:00.721 --> 02:01.889 hospital network says in the last two years, UVMMC has cut in half the number of 02:01.889 --> 02:02.790 last two years, UVMMC has cut in half the number of providers who are prescribing 02:02.790 --> 02:04.292 in half the number of providers who are prescribing more than 50 opioites to any 02:04.291 --> 02:06.426 providers who are prescribing more than 50 opioites to any patient.((1:07.14-1:07.32 Dr. 02:06.427 --> 02:07.862 more than 50 opioites to any patient.((1:07.14-1:07.32 Dr. Leffler "We do know that 02:07.861 --> 02:09.863 patient.((1:07.14-1:07.32 Dr. Leffler "We do know that people who take opiates for 02:09.863 --> 02:12.199 Leffler "We do know that people who take opiates for any reason, even more than 02:12.199 --> 02:14.134 people who take opiates for any reason, even more than just a brief period of time, 02:14.134 --> 02:15.669 any reason, even more than just a brief period of time, some people become addicted so 02:15.669 --> 02:17.604 just a brief period of time, some people become addicted so I think that there’s good 02:17.604 --> 02:19.372 some people become addicted so I think that there’s good evidence that controlling the 02:19.373 --> 02:20.074 I think that there’s good evidence that controlling the amount that we’re initially 02:20.074 --> 02:21.509 evidence that controlling the amount that we’re initially prescribing is a good way to 02:21.508 --> 02:22.342 amount that we’re initially prescribing is a good way to decrease the number of people 02:22.343 --> 02:23.911 prescribing is a good way to decrease the number of people who become addicted to 02:23.911 --> 02:24.979 decrease the number of people who become addicted to opiates.")) But Doctor 02:24.978 --> 02:26.446 who become addicted to opiates.")) But Doctor Leffler tells me the reduction 02:26.447 --> 02:27.381 opiates.")) But Doctor Leffler tells me the reduction in prescription rates doesn’t 02:27.381 --> 02:28.315 Leffler tells me the reduction in prescription rates doesn’t mean people still won’t get 02:28.315 --> 02:29.516 in prescription rates doesn’t mean people still won’t get the medicine they need... 02:29.516 --> 02:30.183 mean people still won’t get the medicine they need... ((1:08.45-1:09.00 Dr.Leffler 02:30.184 --> 02:31.085 the medicine they need... ((1:08.45-1:09.00 Dr.Leffler "The fact that we’re 02:31.085 --> 02:32.053 ((1:08.45-1:09.00 Dr.Leffler "The fact that we’re precribing less opiates 02:32.052 --> 02:33.921 "The fact that we’re precribing less opiates overall doesn’t mean people 02:33.921 --> 02:35.790 precribing less opiates overall doesn’t mean people don’t get some needed pain 02:35.789 --> 02:36.990 overall doesn’t mean people don’t get some needed pain medication if they have a 02:36.990 --> 02:38.458 don’t get some needed pain medication if they have a surgery that’s painful. What 02:38.459 --> 02:39.994 medication if they have a surgery that’s painful. What we’re trying to do is precribe 02:39.993 --> 02:42.295 surgery that’s painful. What we’re trying to do is precribe a more reasonab amount so 02:42.296 --> 02:42.997 we’re trying to do is precribe a more reasonab amount so they get the exact right 02:42.996 --> 02:44.097 a more reasonab amount so they get the exact right number of pills.")) 02:44.098 --> 02:44.865 they get the exact right number of pills.")) Doctor Leffler says there is 02:44.865 --> 02:46.233 number of pills.")) Doctor Leffler says there is no evidence that shows if 02:46.233 --> 02:48.702 Doctor Leffler says there is no evidence that shows if people are prescribed less 02:48.702 --> 02:50.137 no evidence that shows if people are prescribed less opioids, they will turn to 02:50.137 --> 02:52.606 people are prescribed less opioids, they will turn to other drugs.But with more than 02:52.606 --> 02:54.108 opioids, they will turn to other drugs.But with more than 240-thousand BCBS members 02:54.108 --> 02:56.677 other drugs.But with more than 240-thousand BCBS members struggling with opioid abuse 02:56.677 --> 02:58.145 240-thousand BCBS members struggling with opioid abuse disorder nationwide, there is 02:58.145 --> 02:59.446 struggling with opioid abuse disorder nationwide, there is still a long way to go. 02:59.446 --> 03:03.317 disorder nationwide, there is still a long way to go. A BEAUTIFUL EVENING FOR