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Nationwide, from 2006 to 2014, Native Americans were nearly 50 percent more likely to die of an opioid overdose than non-natives, a Washington Post analysis found. Today, almost 10 percent of Oklahoma’s population is native. This, coupled with the alarming fact that nearly half of Oklahoma’s drug overdose deaths were attributed to opioids in 2018, points to an ever-evolving challenge for tribal communities in the state. Now, COVID-19 has put a spotlight on the trials that tribal communities face, overwhelmed by health disparities, poverty and isolation – all of which are known to fuel the addiction epidemic. The collision of the two crises have caused The Cherokee Nation, Northeast Oklahoma’s sovereign tribal government and the largest tribe in the United States, to think creatively about the drug abuse prevention efforts within their community. “We witnessed first-hand the impact of addiction on our Cherokee community and, as experts warned of the potential rise in overdose rates, we had to think smart and fast to come up with new solutions,” said Coleman Cox, Prevention Specialist at Cherokee Nation. “We’ve since found that the simplest solutions work the best.”
To fill the gaps left in prevention efforts after the sudden cancellation of in-person events and clinic and prevention service closures due to COVID-19, Cherokee Nation increased its community outreach and education efforts and distribution of prevention tools to ensure families were safe at home. One such tool is the Deterra® Drug Deactivation System (“Deterra Pouches”).
The Deterra Pouches can be used privately, at-home to safely and permanently dispose of leftover medications available for abuse, misuse or accidental poisoning – in three simple steps. The pouches also prevent pharmaceuticals from being flushed down sinks and toilets or improperly disposed of in the trash and landing in our landfills – where still-potent drugs can harm our environment.
The Pouches are distributed through Cherokee Nation’s community coalition partnerships, Community Action Network (CAN), which follows an evidence-based methodology known as the Strategic
Prevention Framework (SPF) to identify root causes for substance abuse at the community level. On the Think SMART Oklahoma website, community members can fill out a simple form, select their
county of residence, name and email address, and check a box indicating the products they desire and then click submit. The form is sent to a coalition partner in their county and they reach out explaining
where to pick up the free medication safes and Deterra Pouches, as well as Narcan.
“Given much of our population lives in rural areas, not everyone has access to medication drop box sites and often hold on to their medications or dispose of them incorrectly,” said Cox. “We asked ourselves, ‘what can we provide for our Cherokee citizens to practice better medication hygiene from the comfort of their homes?’ The Deterra Pouches were a clear, simple answer.”
In early 2016 Cherokee Nation earned the Strategic Rx Prevention Grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and in 2018 used a portion of the funds to
purchase more Deterra Pouches and rid the community of opportunities for drug abuse. To date, Cherokee Nation Prevention has distributed over 24,000 pouches through the Think SMART OK website and CAN partnerships surrounding bi-annual DEA National Drug Take Back events. “I wish I could do more, but grant resources are finite,” said Cox. “With sustained support for these prevention efforts from community and tribal leadership, I could put a Think SMART GO Kit in the hand of every person prescribed an opioid who lives within the Cherokee Reservation in Oklahoma.” By 2021, Cox plans to launch Think SMART GO Kits for rural community members, which will include: Safe Solutions (Deterra Pouches, medication safes,) Medical Education (for providers and patients, including Narcan nasal spray,) Awareness information, peer support and self-help strategies for tribal citizens in Recovery and Treatment Programs. “People want Deterra Pouches now more than ever,” concluded Cox. “As more people stay socially distant at home, often in Elder’s homes, safe medication storage and disposal is critical in keeping medications out of the wrong hands. That’s why we do our part… to help Oklahoma Think SMART.”
Visit DeterraSystem.com/government to explore how other organizations are using Deterra or reach out to (612) 568-1128 or Sales@DeterraSystem.com to discuss how to implement at-home drug disposal initiatives in your community.
