OPIOID ABATEMENT. YEAH. BEGINNING THIS AUGUST, METRO TECH WILL ROLL OUT A BRAND NEW INITIATIVE TO CURB THE OPIOID CRISIS BY GETTING AHEAD OF IT THROUGH EDUCATION AND PROVIDING STUDENTS AND STAFF WITH LIFE SAVING TOOLS. THE NUMBERS ARE DANGEROUSLY HIGH WHEN IT COMES TO HOSPITALIZATION IN OVERDOSE, OVERDOSE AND MISUSE. DEPENDENCY ON PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. METRO TECH IS GETTING IN ON THE FIGHT AGAINST OPIOIDS. TODAY, THE SCHOOL WAS AWARDED $150,000 TO FUND A NEW OPIOID ABATEMENT PLAN TO HELP STUDENTS AND STAFF WHO MAY BE SUFFERING WITH AN ADDICTION. THE PLAN BREAKS DOWN INTO THREE PARTS PREVENTION, HARM REDUCTION, AND THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION. WE WANT TO CERTIFY AT LEAST 25 TEACHERS AND MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE, CURRENT. OUR COUNSELORS HAVE THAT CREDENTIAL OR CERTIFICATION, BUT WE WANT TO EXPAND THAT. THE SCHOOL WILL PLACE PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION DISPOSAL CONTAINERS AT EVERY CAMPUS, ALONG WITH VENDING MACHINES STOCKED WITH FENTANYL. TESTING STRIPS AND EQUIPPING CLASSROOMS WITH NARCAN. TEACHERS WILL BE TRAINED ON HOW TO ADMINISTER THE LIFE SAVING DRUG. THE THIRD COMPONENT, UM, IS MORE OF THERAPEUTIC SERVICES. SO WE ARE GOING TO UTILIZE THESE FUNDS TO CONNECT OUR STUDENTS WITH, UM, UM, COUNSELING CLINICIANS. NOW, METRO TECH PROVIDED DATA FROM THE OKLAHOMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, WHICH SHOWED OKLAHOMA COUNTY HAD 722 UNINTENTIONAL DRUG OVERDOSE DEATHS FROM 2017 TO 2021. NOW, METRO TECH IS JUST ONE OF 71 ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS OKLAHOMA FROM CITIES TO COUNTIES AND EVEN SCHOOLS, TO GET SOME OF THIS MONEY.
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Oklahoma Opioid Abatement Board awards millions in grants to fight opioid crisis
Metro Tech was one of 71 organizations across Oklahoma to be awarded some of the $11 million available
The Oklahoma Opioid Abatement Board awarded millions of dollars in grants Tuesday across the state to address Oklahoma's opioid crisis. >> Download the KOCO 5 AppBeginning in August, Metro Technology Centers will begin an initiative to curb the opioid crisis by getting ahead of it through education and equipping students and staff with life-saving tools. "The numbers are dangerously high when it comes to hospitalization, overdose, misuse, dependency on prescription drugs," Robyn Miller, the senior director of operations at Metro Tech, said. The school was awarded $150,000 to fund a new opioid abatement plan to help staff and students who may be suffering with an addiction. The plan is broken down into three parts: prevention, harm reduction, and therapeutic intervention. “We want to certify at least 25 teachers in mental health response. Currently, our counselors have that certification, but we want to expand that," Miller said. The school will place prescription medication disposal containers at every campus, along with vending machines stocked with fentanyl testing strips and equipping classrooms with Narcan. Teachers will be trained on how to administer the lifesaving drug. “The third component is more therapeutic services. We are going to use these funds to connect these students with counseling clinicians," Miller said. Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.Through their application, Metro Tech provided data from the Oklahoma State Department of Health, which showed Oklahoma County had 722 unintentional drug overdose deaths from 2017 to 2021. Metro Tech said their role in a student's life goes beyond the classroom and success starts with help. “It may not be an individual’s crisis, but it may be a relative’s or neighbors, so it’s just that awareness that is lacking," Miller said. Metro Tech was one of 71 organizations across Oklahoma to be awarded some of the $11 million available. Top Headlines WATCH: Overnight rain causes severe flooding throughout OKC metro TIMELINE: Another round of storms brings hail, strong wind and tornado risk later Tuesday Oklahoma City Public Schools employees left stunned by unexpected layoffs Car significantly damaged after crash with semi-trailer in northwest Oklahoma City Morning flooding traps residents in neighborhood near Tinker Air Force Base
OKLAHOMA CITY —
The Oklahoma Opioid Abatement Board awarded millions of dollars in grants Tuesday across the state to address Oklahoma's opioid crisis.
>> Download the KOCO 5 App
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Beginning in August, Metro Technology Centers will begin an initiative to curb the opioid crisis by getting ahead of it through education and equipping students and staff with life-saving tools.
"The numbers are dangerously high when it comes to hospitalization, overdose, misuse, dependency on prescription drugs," Robyn Miller, the senior director of operations at Metro Tech, said.
The school was awarded $150,000 to fund a new opioid abatement plan to help staff and students who may be suffering with an addiction. The plan is broken down into three parts: prevention, harm reduction, and therapeutic intervention.
“We want to certify at least 25 teachers in mental health response. Currently, our counselors have that certification, but we want to expand that," Miller said.
The school will place prescription medication disposal containers at every campus, along with vending machines stocked with fentanyl testing strips and equipping classrooms with Narcan. Teachers will be trained on how to administer the lifesaving drug.
“The third component is more therapeutic services. We are going to use these funds to connect these students with counseling clinicians," Miller said.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
Through their application, Metro Tech provided data from the Oklahoma State Department of Health, which showed Oklahoma County had 722 unintentional drug overdose deaths from 2017 to 2021. Metro Tech said their role in a student's life goes beyond the classroom and success starts with help.
“It may not be an individual’s crisis, but it may be a relative’s or neighbors, so it’s just that awareness that is lacking," Miller said.
Metro Tech was one of 71 organizations across Oklahoma to be awarded some of the $11 million available.
Top Headlines
- WATCH: Overnight rain causes severe flooding throughout OKC metro
- TIMELINE: Another round of storms brings hail, strong wind and tornado risk later Tuesday
- Oklahoma City Public Schools employees left stunned by unexpected layoffs
- Car significantly damaged after crash with semi-trailer in northwest Oklahoma City
- Morning flooding traps residents in neighborhood near Tinker Air Force Base
