Tackling the opioid epidemic

Our talented faculty are working to solve some of the country’s most pressing health issues, including the widespread opioid epidemic.

In the U.S. last year, more than 63,000 people died of a drug overdose, with opioids involved in 75 percent of those deaths. The crisis also hits close to home, with at least 504 deaths in Colorado caused by opioid overdose.  

One of our best and brightest minds, CU School of Pharmacy faculty member Robert Valuck, PhD, RPh, is focusing on the opioid epidemic with his research and efforts on behalf of the Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention. By building strategic partnerships with the consortium’s volunteers at federal, state and local levels, Valuck is bringing communities closer to solving the opioid epidemic. We connected with Valuck to hear about this critical issue and his important work.

What significant hurdles do health care professionals face in addressing the opioid epidemic?

Right now, we have a 90 percent treatment gap for patients with substance use disorders. Theoretically, this situation would be similar to a cancer patient going to a treatment center and being told, “sorry, we can only give treatment to one out of ten people.” Even with the treatments that are available, we are woefully below capacity to deal with all of the need that’s out there. 

How is the Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention overcoming obstacles in health care and tackling the opioid epidemic?

With almost 500 volunteers including experts from state and federal agencies and task forces, nonprofit organizations, health care providers to public health officials, we’re helping change lives. We’re working to raise public awareness, improve education, research, treatment and safe disposal.

What is the ‘medicine cabinet’ problem and how is the consortium seeking to overcome it?

One of our initiatives involves addressing the “medicine cabinet” problem. Often times, unused prescribed opioid pills are left over in the medicine cabinet, and then are used by friends or family members for whom they weren’t prescribed. We’re trying to get disposal boxes in every community in Colorado so people can give back leftover medications and prevent others from using them non-medically. 

What gives you hope in the face of this epidemic?

There are effective treatments that work, such as an overdose antidote called naloxone, and recovery is possible. Most importantly, lives can be saved. This outcome is secured by the treatment providers, policymakers and others who are aiming to make a difference. People are engaged—they’re collaborating and talking about the epidemic. They really care. We’re working across all sectors in the state to do good work and solve this issue.

If you weren’t fighting the opioid epidemic, what do you think you’d be doing?

I love to fly fish, so I’d try to make it a living but most likely go hungry while trying. A couple years ago I did a big fishing trip up in Jackson, Wyoming with my son. There, we floated the Snake River, through the Teton Mountains, catching trout. You don’t get anything prettier than that.

Click here to learn more about the Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention.

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