Maryland’s Health Matters - Upper Chesapeake - Spring 2019 - 11

Drs. Christopher J.
Welsh (left) and Eric
Weintraub are using
innovative approaches to
both prevent and treat
opioid addiction.

and resources to combat the

treatment centers that take

opioid epidemic. UMMC's

a medical approach. A combi-

campuses are the only two

nation of counseling, detoxing

hospitals in the city that were

or taking medications that

awarded top ranking. "We are

curb opioid cravings helps

leaders in the state for dealing

patients recover.

with opioids," Dr. Welsh says.
"We screen all ED patients

campuses had referred

for their risk of opioid abuse

4,480 patients to treatment.

"The medical model
that we follow affords more

Good, MD, associate pro-

ED to treatment engages

A MEDICAL
APPROACH TO
ADDICTION

fessor of neurology at the

patients when they need

Maryland has one of the five

Marian Currens, CRNP, direc-

UM SOM and chief medical

help the most. Unlike many

highest opioid-related death

tor of UM CAM.

officer at UMMC Midtown

other U.S. hospitals, UMMC's

rates in the U.S. Despite

Campus, who established

doctors can prescribe

this, the stigma surrounding

treat the entire patient,

the task force. "If they come

buprenorphine in the ED.

addiction continues to be an

not just the addiction. Aside

obstacle to treatment. "People

from counseling services,

disorder," says Janine L.

into the ED with an opioid

The pipeline from the

The task force also makes

respect for our patients'
medical issues and diminishes
some of the stigma," says

Each clinic works to

overdose, we engage a

an effort to influence state

are ashamed. Sometimes

some clinics offer additional

trained 'peer recovery coach'

policy. "We are at the table

they refuse evidence-based

health services. One clinic

to intervene and guide them

advocating on behalf of the

treatments because they are

partners with the Institute

to treatment. These are

complex pain patients we

pressured by people in their

of Human Virology to treat

people in recovery them-

treat at our hospitals and on

lives to avoid taking the med-

infectious diseases such as

selves who engage with

behalf of our doctors caring

ications that can help," says

hepatitis C and HIV, which

patients in the ED and,

for patients," Dr. Good says.

Eric Weintraub, MD, associate

are more common among

based on the patient's risk,

Additionally, the task

professor of psychiatry and

people with an addiction

encourage them to enter a

force collaborated with

director of the division of

disorder. They have recently

treatment program."

the Baltimore City Health

addiction research and treat-

expanded the practice to

Department's formation of

ment at the UM SOM.

offer primary care services.

The peer recovery program has seen great suc-

a ranking system to measure

cess. By December, UMMC's

each hospital's capability

To combat this stigma,
UMMC offers addiction

They also established a
drop-in center that provides

ALTERNATIVES FOR CHILDREN IN PAIN
Research shows that nearly 1 in 4 high school
seniors have been exposed to prescription
opioids. Unfortunately, even legitimate opioid
prescriptions increase a child's risk of future
misuse. In fact, 80 percent of high school
seniors who reported recreational opioid use
once had legitimate prescriptions.
Orthopaedic surgeons frequently prescribe
opiates to treat painful conditions. Joshua
M. Abzug, MD, associate professor of orthopaedics and pediatrics at the University of
Maryland School of Medicine and a pediatric
orthopaedic surgeon at University of Maryland

Children's Hospital, worked with his
This study and others like
colleagues at the Pediatric Orthopaedic
it help providers take new
Society of North America on groundapproaches to pain managebreaking research to explore the opioid
ment and provide patients with
Joshua M.
Abzug, MD
crisis's role in pediatric orthopaedics.
safer alternatives for pain relief,
To limit opioid prescribing, Dr. Abzug
which is particularly important
and his colleagues looked at alternative pain
when treating children and teenagers.
relief methods. For example, providing the
To combat the opioid crisis, physicians
non-opioid pain medication gabapentin before
need to better understand their prescribing
surgery lowered children's overall narcotic
habits and any safer alternatives. University of
consumption afterward. Often over-theMaryland Medical Center dedicates academic
counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen
resources to exploring these problems to curb
(Tylenol), were enough to relieve pain.
opioid use while improving quality of care.

 If you think you or a loved one has an opioid addiction, call 800-NEXT-STEP.

umuch.org | Spring 2019

http://www.umuch.org

Maryland’s Health Matters - Upper Chesapeake - Spring 2019

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