Prescription Opioid & Stimulant Misuse in Rural Montana: From Insight to Education
Current Grant Projects
Rural Opioid Technical Assistance 2018 Grant Project: MSU Extension Rural Health &Safety Education Expansion to Provide Evidence-Based Training on Prescription Opioid Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery
(Funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, SAMHSA--Grant ended July 31, 2021)
The goal of this grant project is to partner with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, State Targeted Response (STR), State Opioid Response (SOR) recipients and the Montana Tribal Opioid Response (TOR) grantees to expand capacity to address opioid use and misuse in Montana. According to a 2013 report by the Montana Department of Health and Human Services, a higher prevalence of prescription opioid use was reported by American Indians than by whites. In response to the growing need to address prescription opioid misuse among American Indians, the following Montana tribes participated in the project: Northern Cheyanne, Fort Belknap, and Fort Peck. This project will also allow for expanded efforts to address prescription opioid misuse among pregnant mothers and those caring for elderly populations in rural and tribal communities across Montana.
Grant Achievements:
Current achievements listed below were made possible by SAMHSA and USDA funded grants, funding period September 30, 2018-September 29, 2020 (No cost extensions were granted from either funder with close-outs in February 28, 2021 (USDA) and July 31, 2021 (SAMHSA))
Montana Rural Tribal Opioid Technical Assistance Training Summary
Montana Rural Statewide Technical Assistance Training Summary
Opioid Use Disorder Awareness and Education Toolkit
Project generated opioid educational materials dessiminatation summary
Public Service Announcements (also available by clicking the video icon below)
Thrive for Montana (an online emotional well-being program)
FREE ENROLLMENT NOW OFFERED
As a component of our 2018 SAMHSA project, the Thrive for Montana program was expanded. FREE enrollment opportunities are available to adult Montanans! What is Thrive? Thrive by Waypoint Health Innovations is a self-paced and confidential online program for people who want to take charge of their emotional well-being. The program is comprised of three modules that teach cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) skills that may help the user communicate more confidently, think more constructively, and do more activities that make them feel good. For more information on the program and instructions on how to enroll for free please visit.......
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day October 24th, 2021
To find a prescription drug take box back near you, please visit https://takebackday.dea.gov/
Don't have a drop box near you. Request a Deterra Bag!
To get a free at home medication disposal pouch for FREE (while supplies last) click on the "Request a Deterra Bag!" link.
Rural Opioid Technical Assistance 2020 Grant Project: MSU Extension Expansion Project to Provide Education, Outreach and Training on Opioid and Stimulant Prevention, Treatment and Recovery for Rural and Native Montana Youth
(Funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, SAMHSA--funding period August 31, 2020--August 30, 2022)
The goal of this project is to better understand situations faced by rural and Native youth in Montana related to prescription opioid and stimulant misuse. According to the Montana Office of Public Instruction, 2019 Youth Risk Behavior survey, one in ten highschool students has taken a prescription drug without a doctor's prescription. Sustainable partnerships with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, a State Targeted Response (STR) and a State Opioid Response (SOR) recipient, the Montana Primary Care Association (MPCA), and the Montana Tribal Opioid Response (TOR) grantees, allow us to expand the capacity needed to address prescription opioid and stimulant use and misuse among youth in Montana. A significant portion of our work will involve greater outreach and more effective, relevant prevention efforts for Native American youth and young adults.
Grant Achievements:
Dispite the pandemic drastically slowing the progress of grant activities in the 2020/2021 school year, our project team and partners accomplished the following:
IRB approval from all nine tribal IRB’s, Tribal Health Departments, & Tribal Colleges
Please note: Focus group data has been collected and a summary when compliled data are analyzed.
Please note: Our team will continue to distribute and collect youth surveys into the 2021/2022 academic year (this portion of the project has been slightly delayed due to COVID-19).
Please note: Focus groups with the tribal communities and the distribution/collection of youth surveys from tribal schools will be completed during the 2021/2022 academic year.
Upcoming Grant Activities
Once all focus group and survey data has been analyzed, our grant team will use the information gained to produce the following:
- Develop print materials and social media campaigns
- Youth-focused opioid/stimulant misuse education videos
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Two sets of youth curricula:
1. An online, self-paced curriculum specifically designed for rural youth, and
2. A new, culturally significant ‘opioid and stimulant reduction/mental wellness curriculum’ designed specifically for youth living on Native American reservations.
- Youth-based technical assistance trainings to TOR grantees.
- Youth-based technical assistance trainings to statewide professionals working on OUD/SUD.
