Substance abuse prevention is an integral part of the mission to increase health and well-being of all Tulsa County residents. The PFS program and STR, SOR, Rx grants collect, examine and monitor substance abuse data throughout Tulsa County on a yearly basis. This data is assembled and an epidemiological profile is created. By integrating consumption and consequence data, Tulsa County residents can learn and explore the community that surrounds them as it relates to substances. The RPC focuses on providing interventions to help prevent and reduce risky behaviors in environments that may promote or allow it. Drug abuse has a cumulative negative effect on the individual, families and the community and is a major public health problem. The three strategies that the PFS program and the Coalition Against Prescription and Substance Abuse of Tulsa (CAPSAT) promote within the community are: secure storage, proper disposal and safe use of prescription drugs. Removing Rx drugs from homes, offices, etc. is one intervention in which the accessibility of drugs is reduced, which in the long run affects the consequences of abuse, i.e., reduction in abuse, risky behavior, unintentional poisonings and even death. Lack of accessibility, combined with other interventions, will increase the protective factors (safety, health) and improve health outcomes. Removal of the Rx drugs changes that environment, thus risky behaviors can be reduced.

While limited in-person interactions during the 2020-2021 fiscal year was important for the safety of our community, it presented challenges with education and dissemination of resources in line with the RPC’s key strategies. RPC staff was able to continue to provide resources and community education throughout the community through development of new partnerships. Through a combined partnership with the RPC, ThinkSmart Oklahoma and multiple local pharmacies, community members received free lockboxes, personal medication disposal bags and an array of informational prevention resources highlighting the importance of proper disposal and secure storage of prescription medications and taking medication as prescribed.

ThinkSmart Oklahoma created several PSAs and routinely aired on KOTV/Channel 6 News to inform Tulsa County residents about the dangers of improper storage and disposal of prescription medications. PSAs also informed community members could receive free lock boxes and disposal bags. By combining efforts with Think Smart and local pharmacies to distribute resources and devices to community members in need, RPC was able to expand its reach to community members often times in dire need of safety measures to help protect their loved ones. RPC data has shown the devices and resources disseminated have served diverse populations and these efforts covered most of Tulsa County.

During the start of the COVID pandemic RPC staff began seeing the potential for an increasing trend of substance abuse rates in our state and county – specifically with opioids, prescription drugs and alcohol. RPC staff discussed these noticeable increases in opioid and prescription drug overdoses, calls for treatment, ER visits and other issues with key sectors of the community. Over several months staff attempted to collect data, but the data was ether limited or not available. These issues and data gaps were presented to the Coalition Against Substance Abuse of Tulsa (CAPSAT). It became apparent that the uptick of emerging substance abuse trends was surfacing in other community sectors as well. CAPSAT coalition members discussed how their jobs, clients and the general community was being greatly affected. Outreach efforts for the public at large and various community sectors was becoming increasingly more challenging.

The coalition decided to conduct a virtual speaker series to address a few of these topics and data trends. The series was based on a previous series they led called “A Day in The Life” in 2019. The new virtual forum was titled “A Day in the Life: Front Line Perspectives During the Times of COVID.” The goal of the forum was to encourage dialogue across fields to better align and integrate the efforts of those working on the front lines of the opioid epidemic in Oklahoma. The coalition and RPC staff were able to recruit people for five sessions over five months on the topics of: Mental Health, Education, Treatment, Law Enforcement, and Alcohol. The coalition and RPC staff were able to recruit a wide spectrum of individuals representing different professions and experiences. Session speakers discussed and answered three specific questions in the sessions: 1. How has your work changed during the COVID pandemic? 2. What information is vital when addressing substance abuse issues and trends resulting from the pandemic? 3. How can CAPSAT and various key stakeholders help? Speakers presented limited data and emerging trends and discussed how the pandemic affected their daily role within their agencies as well as difficulties and challenges professionals may have faced while working with their clientele. Speakers were encouraged to focus on dialog and experiences.

A major obstacle was that the series had to be conducted online. This created many logistical and technological hurdles. As event organizers, RPC staff had quickly become adaptable and resolution-minded when learning how to address and overcome monthly obstacles. With the assistance of THD’s IT and Marketing teams, RPC staff was able to expand their knowledge and overcome numerous challenges faced during the forum’s sessions. The series was successful and had on average 20 to 40 participants every session with additional individuals and agencies request to watch the recordings. Forum attendees were from diverse fields including mental health, education counseling, public health, law enforcement, medical, pharmacist, doctors, social workers, prevention, treatment and addiction, etc.

By the Numbers

• 2,176 chemical disposal bags distributed
• 2,759 lock boxes distributed
• 10 educational presentations given
• 13 Hispanic community presentations given
• 9 media stories covering Spring and Fall Rx Take Back events
• 1 opioid forum
• 2 take back events
• 6 Red Ribbon Activities
• 2 PSAs