SUMMIT COUNTY, OHIO—Summit County recently supplied life-saving medications received as part of federal opioid litigation to Western Reserve Hospital. In its settlement with Endo Pharmaceuticals, the County will receive three orders, totaling $380,000 in value, of Vasostrict and adrenaline chloride solution. The two additional orders will also be supplied to other Summit County facilities in the future.
“Our settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors have allowed us to begin the hard work of helping Summit County recover from the opioid epidemic,” said County Executive and OAAC Key Stakeholder Ilene Shapiro. “The distribution of these medications marks an important step in our progress, but much work remains to abate the epidemic created by these companies.”
As directed by the federal judge, settlement funds and medications will be used exclusively for abating the opioid epidemic. The strategy focuses on four priority areas: treatment, harm reduction, system coordination and evidence-based prevention and education. The Opioid Abatement Advisory Council (OAAC) Key Stakeholders identified the distribution of the Endo medications to Western Reserve as meeting the requirements of the abatement strategy.
“Using the abatement strategy as our guide, we have been working diligently to put settlement funds and medications where they are needed most,” said Summit County Health Commissioner and OAAC Key Stakeholder Donna Skoda. “These medications will help save lives and provide second chances to individuals living with substance use disorders.”
Vasostrict and adrenaline chloride solution are commonly used in emergency rooms and by first responders, and are often used to treat overdoses. Western Reserve Hospital’s emergency room will utilize the medications for its operations and offer both medications to local EMS providers.
“Having these treatments on hand is vital for continuing efficient healthcare not only at Western Reserve Hospital, but at all hospitals throughout Summit County which have also benefitted from the work of the OAAC. We are grateful for their diligent efforts and look forward to even more progress as healthcare professionals work together to acknowledge and decrease the use of opioids in our industry,” said Thomas Bauer R.Ph., Director, Pharmacy, Western Reserve Hospital.
City of Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan, City of Barberton Mayor William Judge and Coventry Township Trustee George Beckham also serve as OAAC Key Stakeholders. The Summit County Opioid Epidemic Abatement Strategy can be viewed at http://co.summitoh.net/images/stories/ExecutiveNewsReleases/2019/2019Summit%20CountyOpioidEpidemicAbatementStrategySummary.pdf.
