SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (Good Things Utah) - It’s a striking statistic: Nearly one of every five adults in the United States suffer from chronic pain.

September is National Pain Awareness Month, and Intermountain Health experts say it’s an opportune time to discuss treatment options to fight pain, including mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy, and how to dispose of opioids, and increase community awareness of opioid overdoses.

“Acute and chronic pain can impact every aspect of a person’s life,” said Kim Compagni, Intermountain Health’s assistant vice president for pain management services. “At Intermountain Health, we make it a priority to promote awareness, educate, and discuss chronic pain with our patients, to help them live a functional, high-quality life.”

Acute Pain vs Chronic Pain

Acute pain is the most common type of pain, usually associated with common illnesses or injuries like cuts and sprains, or trauma from a severe accident or major surgery. Acute pain occurs suddenly and usually goes away as you heal.

Chronic Pain

If pain lasts more than three months, it is considered chronic or persistent pain, and patients may require help from a provider to understand the cause and determine treatment options.

Intermountain Health utilizes experienced primary care providers, highly trained specialists, and a balanced interdisciplinary team approach to treating the physical and psychological causes and effects of chronic pain.

Some effects of chronic pain may include limited mobility, lack of energy, muscle fatigue or tightness, appetite changes, depression, anger, depression, or anxiety.

Most common pain conditions include back pain, shoulder pain, knee pain, hip pain, and foot pain.

“Patients can still live a happy productive life with chronic pain,” said Compagni. “We encourage patients to talk to their provider to consider other options to help with chronic pain symptoms.”

Opioids

Opioids can be an important part of treatment, but they also come with serious risks.

It’s important to work with a healthcare provider to make sure you are getting the safest, most effective care. Intermountain Health Pain Management Services can help patients with options to manage their pain with and without opioids.

Naloxone Awareness

Naloxone is an important medication to have on hand if you or a family member uses opioids.

Naloxone is a life-saving medication that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. It works by temporarily reducing the effects of the drug so that patients can get to a medical facility.

This year, Intermountain Health is making it easier and more convenient for families to have access to life-saving naloxone in Utah, Idaho and Nevada with its new Naloxone on Demand program.

Naloxone on Demand is a free program that aims to make the life-saving medication readily available, so that everyone has this life-saving resource and help in their home for those who may experience an opioid overdose.

All that’s required is the following:

• Complete the online request form here (only takes a few minutes).
• Consult with a pharmacist over the phone.
• Provide prescription insurance information or payment information. No insurance is required.
• Medication is then shipped to your door.

Why Get Naloxone?

Naloxone is a life-saving medication that reverses the effects of an overdose from prescription opioids such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, methadone, morphine, and fentanyl, as well as heroin. It works by temporarily reducing the effects of the drug so that patients can go to a medical facility.

Naloxone, or sometimes known as the product Narcan, is an important medication to have on hand if you or a family member uses opioids.

“Intermountain Health has expanded the focus on naloxone and naloxone education to improve patient safety and is working with providers, clinicians, and pharmacists in having naloxone discussions with all patients receiving an opioid prescription,” said Mason Hilton, community pharmacy director at Intermountain Health. “Anyone taking an opioid, for any reason, is at risk of opioid overdose, even those taking opioids exactly as prescribed.” 

Having an opioid prescription in the house is also a risk for others, such as children or pets accidentally taking them. Family or friends are also potentially at risk for accidental use or intentional overdose. 

“Naloxone is just as important as having a fire extinguisher in the house,” said Compagni. “You never want to think this can happen to you, your family or child, but it can. We want everyone to be prepared.” 

What are the signs of an opioid overdose?

Many overdoses are unintentional and may still happen even when taking medications as prescribed. A person overdosing may exhibit any or all the signs listed below.

Think of the acronym SMELL:

• Not SPEAKING – can’t arouse them, they don’t respond to painful stimuli.
• Not MOVING– unresponsive.
• EYES pinpoint pupils – pupils do not get bigger when the eyelid is opened.
• LIPS blue/gray, cold or clammy skin – not getting enough oxygen.
• LUNGS respiratory depression – very slow or gurling breathing, and ultimately no breathing.

When to administer naloxone?

If you believe someone is overdosing:

• Call 911
• Perform rescue breathing
• Administer naloxone if available
• Place the person on their side in the event of vomiting
• Administer second dose of naloxone after three minutes if needed
• Don’t leave until help arrives

How to use naloxone?

There are two different administration methods for naloxone – the nasal spray and an intramuscular injection.

Is naloxone covered by insurance?

Naloxone is covered by most insurance plans. You will be responsible for any copay after the insurance is billed. Naloxone is also available without a prescription and insurance is not necessary for this option.

What is the cost to have naloxone sent to my home?

Intermountain does not charge for this service – you just pay the cost of the medication after any insurance coverage. If choosing the over-the-counter option, you will be responsible for the cost of the medication. There is free delivery of the medication to your home via the Intermountain Home Delivery pharmacy. The medication will be delivered to your home within 4-5 business days.

For more information on naloxone go here. To sign up for Intermountain Health’s Naloxone on Demand go here.

To learn more about Intermountain Health’s Pain Management services, visit Home | Pain Management (intermountainhealthcare.org)

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