Fentanyl is an extremely dangerous synthetic opioid that acts like morphine but is 100 times stronger than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin (CDC, 2022). In Chicago, Illinois overdose deaths increased by 533% from 2015 to 2017 (Chicago Department of Public Health, 2018). Additionally, in Cook County fentanyl use is associated with about 90% of fatal overdoses (CDPH, 2018). Trauma and Advanced Childhood Experiences (ACEs) can be contributing risk factors in opioid use. Utilizing a trauma informed approach to care will help the proposed program achieve outcome goals.
This program will utilize a trauma informed public health prevention framework. Staff will be trained on trauma informed approaches to care. The program will administer risk assessments to determine if individuals have experienced trauma or ACEs. Trauma informed principles will be used in program implementation. The first and very significant principle is safety, which includes safety and security for both staff and those that they serve (Feuer-Edwards et al, 2016; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA, 2023). Empowerment, choice, and voice will be used so that individuals feel included in their plan of care, and they have options to make improvements in their health a personal choice (SAMHSA, 2023). Community integration and relationships will continue to be worked on with the key principle of collaboration and mutuality in place. This principle will allow for each member of the team to be trained in trauma-informed care and work together to be on the same page to implement patient care and develop true partnerships (Feuer-Edwards et al, 2016).
Bronfenbrenner’s social ecological model, which examines factors beyond the individual level and looks at environmental and external factors that influence behavior, will guide the program (King, 2023). Bronfenbrenner’s individual, microsystem and mesosystem levels will be addressed. It is important to address individual factors such as prior alcohol or tobacco use because they can serve as predictors to opioid misuse. The microsystem involves agents of socialization among relationships the person has including with parents, teachers, friends and even church members. The organization will build community by networking, collaborating, and establishing relationships to ensure participants have a strong support system. This leads into the mesosystem which incorporates relationships between the microsystem such as a parent and community health worker building a relationship to target opioid use reduction (King, 2023).
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, December 9). Adverse Childhood Experiences. U.S Department of Health & Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdo...se-studies/ACEs.html
Chicago Department of Public Health. (2018). Annual opioid surveillance report - Chicago 2017. https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/cdph/CDPH/Healthy%20Chicago/ChicagoOpioidReport2018.pdf
Feuer-Edwards, A., O’Brien, C., & O’Connor, S. (2016). Trauma-Informed philanthropy. Philanthropy Network. https://philanthropynetwork.or...raumaGUIDE_Final.pdf
King, L. (2023). A social ecological approach to address trauma [Video Lecture]. Canvas@UF. https://elearning.ufl.edu/
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration. (2023). Alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/atod
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