The increase in overdose deaths within alaska communities remains a challenge

Alaska opioid use and abuse are devastating public health crises that continue to escalate nationally, as overdose deaths and addiction disorders continue to impact communities across the state. The alaska prescription drug monitoring program (pdmp) was established in 2008 as the states controlled substance prescription database. Through changes in legislative mandates and increased coordinated response efforts, alaska has gained momentum in the efforts to combat the opioid crisis. The pdmp is crucial to these efforts, having improved patient care, reduced the prescribing of inappropriate controlled substances, and provided an essential tool to identify potential misuse and abuse. Ongoing funding is needed to continue progress, and to enhance the progressive procedures utilized in this effort. The alaska department of commerce, community, and economic development (dcced), under which the pdmp is housed, has fostered strong partnerships with divisions and sections of the alaska department of health (DOH), department of public safety (DPS), department of corrections (DOC), the tribal health organization (THO), the states health information exchange (HIE), and hospital and professional associations. These partnerships have facilitated successful distribution of emergency opioid overdose reversal drug kits, increased collaboration to assist federal and state investigations, and have supported increased provider knowledge of opioid use and its effect on individuals and communities. With funding from this solicitation, alaska will be able to advance existing and implement new strategies to: providing adequate resources to assist with the development and implementation of programs to effectively monitor compliance. Providing adequate resources to assist licensing boards with improved registration resources. Providing adequate resources to assist state and federal agencies with investigations to enhance public safety and allow community wellbeing to thrive. Enhance the pdmp by utilizing the advanced analytics features, which will strengthen the states ability to identify problematic prescribing and dispensing behaviors while supporting judicious treatment practices. Provide funding for training, resource development, and education efforts for staff and end users. Continue funding for the cost of rxcheck, which is currently configured in alaska. Continue support for integration to improve access to providers. Assist with the development of provider training materials to increase utilization of the pdmp. Upgrade to asap 5.0 to improve data collection in alaska.