Framingham Joins BU School Of Medicine To Battle Opioid Epidemic

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Framingham's Health Department is teaming up with Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) for a new program that educates pediatricians about opioids to prevent substance use in their young patients. The Safer/Competent Opioid Prescribing Education (SCOPE) of Pain program is designed to help health care providers use best practices when prescribing opioids. The program was made in collaboration with the city health department and pediatric addiction specialists at BUSM.

The new, collaborative program tailors the nationally recognized program to be appropriate for pediatric providers, allowing them to prevent substance use by starting education about opioids at a young age.

“This program is about prevention through education,” said Kelly Joseph, Coordinator of the
MetroWest MOAPC grant. “It is critical that pediatric providers understand the increased risk that
opioid addiction poses for adolescents; know how to prescribe safely, as well as the viable
alternatives; and how to appropriately advise and educate their patients.”

Funding for the pediatric program was made possible through the Massachusetts Opioid Addiction
Prevention Collaborative (MOAPC) grant which was awarded to the Framingham Health
Department in 2016 from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) Bureau of
Substance Addiction Services.

Pediatric SCOPE of Pain is a one-hour online module that covers the impact of the opioid epidemic
on adolescents, risk factors, and safe prescribing guidelines. This curriculum offers both Continuing Medical Education and Continuing Nursing Education credit.

According to a 2017 report published by the DPH, “more than two-thirds of people who died from
an opioid-related overdose had a legal opioid prescription at some point from 2011–2014.” Despite significant efforts to better regulate, monitor and enforce safe prescription practices, legal opioid prescriptions continue to be a source of first access for many who later develop an addiction to opioids. Until now, best practices for prescribing opioids have been limited to the adult population, leaving pediatric providers without guidance on how to treat their young patients.

Framingham has taken an active role in the fight against the opioid epidemic. In December, the city filed a civil complaint to sue the pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors, board members and executives who "caused the nation's devastating opioid epidemic."

The city also houses the nonprofit Framingham FORCE, which has a goal to educate the public about opioid misuse and help facilitate recovery and understanding and dismantle stigmas surrounding substance use disorder.

FORCE Vice Chair, Rachel Rabboini said the new program is a step in the right direction. Rabboini said educating the youth is just as important as educating the pediatricians who serve them. "The earlier the better when it comes to having that discussion about drugs and substance use with kids — I would say no later than middle school," she said.