Prevention, Health and Diversion Project
The P.H.D. (Prevention, Health and Diversion) Project was established by SDOVCC to reduce the use of opioids and the abuse of prescription medications among youth in the south Miami-Dade community.
We focus on prescriber education and training, increasing awareness of Naloxone/NARCAN®, and educating the community on the dangers of opioids and prescription medication abuse.
Proper Disposal of Medications
Through the P.H.D. Project we have been able to secure multiple prescription medication drug drop boxes in the south Miami-Dade community. Properly disposing of unused, unwanted or expired medication is just one way of preventing misuse/abuse. Since obtaining the drop boxes in 2018, we have collected over 160 pounds of medication. We have also been able to partner with the Florida National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, Homestead Police Department, Miami-Dade County Police Department, and Walgreens to participate in five DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day events.
Deterra Drug Deactivation and Disposal System
Unused prescription medications pose a risk of abuse and accidental poisoning, but improper disposal can harm the environment and contaminate our water supply. South Dade One Voice Community Coalition has obtained Deterra Pouches as a means to prevent improper disposal of medications. Deterra Pouches are a convenient, environmentally sound option for proper drug disposal right at home for those who are unable to make it to a physical prescription medication drug drop box.
Do you know about the Opioid Epidemic and the impact it has had on Florida?
Through the P.H.D. Project we educate community members about the Opioid Epidemic, the impact it has had on Florida, and strategies to combat it in our community. This is done through Parent and Youth Café's, social media campaigns and informational brochures. We inform community members about properly storing and counting all medications (including everyday vitamins), proper ways to dispose of medications, and educating peers on how to prevent medication misuse/abuse.
Did you see us on TV?
Through Effectv (a Comcast company), we were able show a 30 second ad to the south Miami-Dade County community informing them that they could still properly dispose of medications in our drop boxes during COVID-19. All of our prescription medication drug drop boxes are located in pharmacies from West Perrine to Homestead, Fl.
For more information about the locations of the drop boxes and the accepted and unaccepted items, please click the button below:
THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC
There have been about 400,000 opioid-related deaths since 1999
Approximately 83% of opioid-related deaths are unintended/accidental - mostly occurring outside of a medical setting
A significant rate of mainstream America is at risk. Over 60 million Americans received at least one opioid prescription in 2016
Nearly 12 million Americans report misusing prescription opioids
80% of heroin users reported misuse of prescription opioids prior to heroin
45% of heroin users report a history of dependency with prescription opioids
As of 2016, there are approximately 1 million Americans using heroin, which may often inconspicuously be laced with fentanyl (100 times more potent than morphine)
For more information on Narcan: https://www.narcan.com/
For more information and resources, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/index.html
