The ‘Portland Press Herald’ publishes President Ripich’s op-ed regarding UNE’s leadership in addressing the opioid crisis
UNE President Danielle Ripich, Ph.D., wrote an op-ed piece that was published in the Portland Press Herald on April 6, 2016.
Following the Obama Administration’s declaration of a plan to address the heroin and opioid crisis, UNE announced that in fall 2016, medical students will be required to take some form of prescriber education in order to graduate. This new policy comes in conjunction with the newly released Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain.
Ripich describes her personal connection to the opioid epidemic, having lost family members to addiction. Professionally, the decision to adopt these new requirements also made perfect sense.
Writing that “UNE has been ahead of the curve on this issue for many years,” Ripich discusses the top-notch training that UNE health professions students gain during their years at the University. Additionally, the College of Osteopathic Medicine dedicates over 60 hours of education to pain and opioid-related topics, while the average U.S. medical school provides only nine to 12 hours on this content.
By working together with the community, health professionals, researchers and elected leaders, Ripich states “we are stronger, and can restore health to those affected as well as to our entire communities.”