FFR Admin Staff

FFR Admin Staff

Arming the gatekeepers with peer support principles.

The FDA released a statement[*] recently and the URL is nearly as long and dry as the statement.

I point this out because within the statement is the link to the “FDA’s Opioid Analgesic REMS Education Blueprint for Health Care Providers Involved in the Treatment and Monitoring of Patients with Pain (January 2018)”…13 pages of equally dry data stating that latest comprehensive pain education, evidence based prescribing information, as well as alternative non-prescription options must be utilized.

It recommends the creation of a pain treatment plan and overall wellness plan with patient inclusion, cooperation and follow up…all good ideas and strangely familiar.

As I read both documents (no, really) I came to the conclusion that this formula is, in essence, person centered care, which is at the heart of “Authentic Peer Support”.

It involves treating a person as a partner in their own care by focusing on their strengths and enlisting them in their own behalf by finding the tools that they are willing to use in seeking, in this case “pain solutions”.

It involves forging a relationship with a person built upon the ground of mutual respect and shared human pain experience.

To me, it means finding the ‘fast-food medicine’ equivalent of the family doctor, a person that “knows” you for more than 5 minutes at a time.

I offer kudos to the FDA for urging a return to person-based treatment and espousing the principles of “Authentic Peer Support”…it’s about time!

Will Allphin, Foundation for Recovery

[*] https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm617908.htm?utm_campaign=08222018_Statement_New%20FDA%20steps%20to%20advance%20evidence-based%20opioid%20prescribing%20guidelines&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua

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Southern Nevada Recovery Community Center

Our Activities Calendar

  • One-on-one Peer Recovery Support
  • Mutual Aid Meetings & Support Groups
  • Women’s Empowerment Workshops
  • GED or High school Equivalent Preparation
  • Overdose Prevention Training and naloxone (Narcan) Access Point
  • Computers
  • Library
  • Bus Passes
  • Recycled Clothing (Caring Closet)
  • Peer Recovery Support Specialist Training
  • Lounge Area
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The Southern Nevada Recovery Community Center offers several spaces open to the groups and organizations to rent for meetings, support groups, trainings, and events. Learn more or contact therooms@forrecovery.org for more information.

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Person-Directed Recovery

Person-centered recovery is directed, as much as possible by the person – including decisions about who should be included in the process.  The planning identifies just a few small, but meaningful, short-term changes that the individual can focus on helping to reduce some of the barriers or challenges moving forward.  Person centered care should be central to all recovery frameworks.

*Adapted from Person-Centered Care and Planning by Neal Adams, MD, MPH, and Diane Grieder, M.Ed.