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TFAH • WBT • PaininTheNation.org
Conclusion
Unless action is taken, the country will continue to be on the
worst possible case scenario track for alcohol, drug and suicide
deaths. TFAH and WBT strongly recommend that the resources
and expertise needed to prevent more deaths be provided as
soon as possible—and the nation come together to support a
National Resilience Strategy.
Prioritizing prevention, working together, improving behavioral
health services and engaging in responsible pain treatment and
management practices, healthcare systems can help mitigate the
devastating epidemic of drug overdoses, alcohol-related fatalities
and suicides among the next generation of Americans.
When implementing these action steps, it is essential that
healthcare systems take a careful, system-wide approach to
maximize impact and minimize fragmentation. The integration
of new and existing programs alike can boost community
capabilities and ensure community members have access to
all available resources (i.e. connecting a patient across the
healthcare system, the private sector and safety net programs).
Simply creating new programs in communities, hospitals or
schools without connecting them to other systems pieces will
not bring about as robust a change as possible.
Additionally, healthcare systems can and should advocate for
the policies and resources necessary—both within and beyond
the clinical setting—to reduce alcohol, drug and suicide deaths
among their patients.
