New LA County Media Campaign Aims to Help Opioid Crisis Users

October 10, 2019

Harmony Place Team

LA County Opioid Crisis and it’s users

California has been one of the most progressive and aggressive states at working to slow the opioid epidemic and save lives. Through various public health initiatives, including expansion of medication-assisted treatment, the state has managed to reduce opioid overdoses and deaths over the past two years. But the work is far from over in combating this deadly epidemic.

A new public health initiative from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) seeks to educate people on the risks and harms of prescription pain medicine abuse. The use of prescription opioids, such as oxycodone and hydrocodone, has increased dramatically over the last ten years, in part due to marketing efforts by pharmaceutical companies. Though these medicines are necessary to treat many types of pain, they can also lead to abuse and addiction and have played a role in increasing opioid overdose deaths nationwide.

“Opioid misuse trends in Los Angeles County are a serious public health concern. A key component in preventing addiction, overdose, and death, is educating people about the significant risks associated with using prescription pain medications,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. “If anyone is struggling with dependency, we want them to know and feel hopeful that treatment and recovery are possible.”

On an annual basis, about 3.8 million opioid prescriptions are written in Los Angeles County. Most of these prescriptions are necessary, helping control pain after major surgery or treat debilitating chronic pain. However, the most recent data from 2017 shows there were more than 480 accidental opioid-related deaths and more than 500 emergency room visits related to prescription opioid overdoses in LA County. It is these deaths and emergencies that the campaign hopes to help reduce.

What LA County Residents Should Know

The campaign, which runs in English and Spanish, will feature television and radio ads, social media advertising, and billboards that encourage people to visit ManagePainSafely.org, a website with reliable and easy-to-understand information about opioid use and abuse, particularly prescription opioids. The website helps visitors better understand:

What opioids are and how they work to fight pain
What pain medicines are opioids, including Oxycontin, Percocet, and other brands
When these medicines are commonly prescribed, such as after surgery
How to take pain medicines safely
The risks of taking prescription opioids, such as addiction and side effects
Signs of prescription opioid abuse, including mood changes and taking pain medicines in a way that was not prescribed
Signs of overdose and what to do if someone experiences an overdose

The website’s overall goal is educate and empower 10 million residents in LA County to become an active participant in identifying abuse and stopping the epidemic. In addition to education, it offers encouraging messages on actions to take, such as talking with a doctor about safe ways to manage pain and knowing that treatment and recovery from addiction is possible.

“Misuse of opioids has tragically touched so many lives in LA County. Far too many of our families have suffered the heartbreaking loss of a loved one due to an opioid addiction. To end this opioid epidemic, we must make people aware of local resources and treatment centers available to them,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis. “Through this important campaign, LA County will do all it can to inform residents on how to safely use pain medications and avoid the risk of an overdose.”

Efforts Include More Than Education

The media campaign is just one important element of LA County’s fight against opioid addiction, overdose and death. It was carefully developed with the help of focus groups of LA County residents who identified key issues that helped public health officials develop marketing and messaging. In addition to public education, LA County will continue to fund and expand medication assisted treatment with the help of the state and federal government.

The medical community is also working to fight the opioid epidemic by studying new ways to treat chronic pain using non-narcotic medicines or other therapies. These efforts help reduce the number of opioid prescriptions written while ensuring that patients who need these strong medicines still receive their treatment.

Other efforts include databases to help cut down on duplicate prescriptions or drug-seeking behaviors. The Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES) helps keep track of all pain medicines prescribed throughout the state. Any physician who prescribes opioids and any pharmacist who supplies them must use the system to track who has been prescribed medicine and how much medicine has been dispensed. The database helps prevent “doctor shopping” where people who are addicted to opioids visit multiple physicians or emergency rooms in an attempt to get more medicine prescribed.

All these efforts combined can help save lives and empower LA County residents to find the treatment they need. At Harmony Place, we support public health education on opioid abuse and misuse. We are dedicated to helping people fight addiction and achieve long-term sobriety through comprehensive treatment and support. In addition to treatment, we help teach patients and their families about how opioids work and what treatments may be best for their health.

At Harmony Place in Woodland Hills, California, we provide a relaxing, comfortable environment for addiction treatment and recovery with many addiction treatment program options, including our Medication Assisted Treatment program. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how you or your loved one can prepare for a successful rehabilitation from drug and alcohol addiction at our California treatment center.

Chris P

I've been to 12 rehabs over the last 20 years and NO other place has touch like Harmony Place! From the owner right down to the cleaning lady, everyone here is kinda and warm. God has blessed this place and I feel privileged to have come through here. I recommend anyone who is going through their struggle with mental health or substance abuse to pick up the phone and come! You won't regret it!

Joseph S

This place is incredible, kind, loving, patient, rigorous, educative, caring and the best place for recovery. Ill be part of the alumni crew

Monica G

I had very good experience at Harmony Place From first day I came, staff was very kind and make me feel welcome and safe. Everyone was friendly and always try to help me. The therapists are very good and caring. They listen to me and help me understand my problems better. I learn many things from them and feel stronger because of their support. The nurses also very nice and professional. They always check on me and make sure I am okay. Food was good and facilities were clean and comfortable. It help me feel more relaxed and focus on my recovery. Management also doing very good job. Everything was organized and you can see they really care about patients. I am very thankful for this place and all the people who work here. I recommend this center to anyone who needs help.

Denton

Awesome place great people u want to check this place out most definitely 😜

Tyler

A treatment center where the owners truly care about your recovery and after care.. cannot recommend enough

Jodana S

If you want to detox painlessly this is the place! The staff is A1. They truly care about us. The groups are awesome . Residential is crazy awesome! You live in a mansion. With a private chef who makes the best food. Community meeting that gets results fast, they care about your opinions. Pool and Jacuzzi are beautiful. If your struggling with addiction this is the house you should come to. I LOVE HARMONY PLACE!!!!! Thank you to all the staff they go above and beyond to make this experience comfortable therapeutic. Don't spend another day in your addiction come to Harmony Place right now!

Cass

I’ve been to 4 treatment centers before Harmony Place, and I can tell you without a single doubt that this is the absolute best by FAR. The past ones were luxury Residential Treatment centers that just treated every single client the same not tailoring to each individual, and were basically just in it for the money, dropping the ball each time. I can also tell you that I’ve never met the CEOs, but here, David comes to the facility almost every single day, and makes sure he get to know every individual here. He is incredibly kind, and was even willing to transfer me to another facility with a higher level of trauma therapy due to me having a lifetime of trauma and PTSD that just is going to take a long time to tackle. He truly cares about all of the clients having all of the tools that we need before getting released to the real world. No more of other CEO would ever be willing to miss an opportunity at making more money and even paired with my IMPECCABLE case manager to find a different facility that was more trauma based. My case manager, Sam, goes absolutely above and beyond in every single aspect. She makes sure you have a smooth transition into aftercare, provides out of this world advice when it comes to sobriety, and takes the time out of her day to make sure that FMLA and short-term disability are completely taken care of during your stay. I’ve never met a case manager that could ever compare to Sam. Ever. I feel lucky to have met her, genuinely. Marissa, my therapist, is SO SWEET, actually listens to you, and provides advice and therapy tailored to each individual’s experience. She’s handled every mood I’ve been in, never judged me, and allowed me to feel safe enough to tell her things I’ve never told any person or therapist in my 29 years of life. I’ve been going to therapy for the past 15 years, and none of those therapists even come close to how amazing she is. I’ve been to 4 other treatment centers in my life and none even come close to Harmony Place. The facility is clean, organized, and high-end. I would recommend Harmony place to my family, friends, and anyone seeking treatment. I feel SO BLESSED to have landed in their hands. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE IN THE CLINICAL STAFF BEYOND WORDS. I love you guys ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️. I feel more confident than ever in my Recovery.

Gabe H

Where to begin.. Harmony is a place that will forever be a part of my story as the first step in my recovery journey. I’m so grateful for this program. The staff is very friendly, and many of them understand what addiction is like, for they themselves have recovery stories of their own. They have an awesome team of therapists, group facilitators, nurses, RA technicians, medical and health professionals, a wonderful case manager for aftercare that cares deeply for your next steps; making sure you are set up for success. They have a wonderful admissions team (shoutout to Marielle who was so kind and understanding of my messed up situation). Everyone is very relatable and friendly. They invest heavily in the importance of diet and nutrition too - there’s a full time professional chef. I gained all the weight I lost and wanted back in the first two weeks lol. On top of the intensive programming they do throughout the day, they take us out to experience various kinds of outside groups to get a taste of the real world, and also take us on social outings during the weekend. If you’re serious about getting better this place will meet you where you’re at and prepare you to launch with a renewed mind and heart.

Monica P

I can't begin to explain just how amazing Harmony Place is. In fact, when we sit down with the owner, Jeff, and clinical director, David, on Monday mornings to have a house meeting, they ask us what they could be doing better. A bigger blender for smoothies is the ONLY thing we could come up with. Let me begin by addressing some negative reviews. If you notice many of them are from people, or are referring to people who have been asked to leave. It is because of harmony places protection of their clients that provide ideal conditions for healing and progress. There is a screening process that it is implemented where they make sure the clients they admit are ready to start a life of sobriety. Some people slip through the cracks. Some people find out a few days or weeks in that they've changed their minds. Some are inappropriate and break rules. It happens. When Harmony Place ask people to leave, It's because they are protecting the people who are here that want treatment. In effect, they're providing exactly what I needed for a genuine start to recovery. When I began my search for a treatment center, my requirements were that the facility's provide an environment in which its residents all want to be there and that it is ethically ran. I got that and so much more at Harmony Place. As well as a structured routine, they also provide a confidential and nurturing environment where one feels safe and where profound healing can begin. Their program offers a sound foundation where further progress in sober living is almost guaranteed. In group meetings, we enjoy getting to know ourselves again and with deeper understanding about why we are the way we are. We are provided with skills to handle real life. Its here that I've come to understand that its not addiction that has driven me to make a mess of my life. It is the trauma that I endured and not processing it correctly that lead to poor thinking patterns that opened the door to addiction resulting in poor life management. So we start at the bottom. Trauma. They help us understand that trauma has led to our own toxicity, what that trauma looks like and how to get out of our own way. Process groups help us learn how to take accountability and foster healthier relationships. I learned here that changing the way I think is absolutely possible and imperative to the healing process. Harmony Place offered me hope when I previously felt I was unfixable and a support team that truly loves me. Even after I leave here, I have contacts that almost demand I keep in touch and an alumni meeting where I can return to the facility on Thursday nights. I wasn't a 12 stepper when I came here but my first experience with it was not one where I was ready to stop using. I understand now that the steps will work for me. It's certainly is not the only modality that they teach. In one group, we are provided an opportunity to sit with a recently retired medical doctor to just ask questions. Another is with a nutritionist. There are a handful of people IN recovery that come to lead groups that are all accredited highly specialized where I felt understood and not judged. The knowledge I have gained here is life changing. It is also versatile and relatable for all types of people. my favorite group was dialectical behavioral therapy. There are breathing classes and sound bath groups and I started doing yoga in the morning. There's a dharma meeting they take you offsite that focuses on Buddhist values. A fantastic onsight chef provides three meals and you can have special requests. We facilitated our own Movie nights during free time. I cant forget to mention you get your own one on one meetings with your assigned primary therapist and there is comprehensive medical support complete with 24/7 nurses and a doctor that shows up throughout the week. If this is what you need to recover and you have mediCAL, cancel your mediCAL and get insurance Harmony Place accepts if you can. There are people to help you with that as well. Just call. Many, many thanks to the staff. ✔️Another life changed.🙏

Cody B

This is such an amazing place truly changed my life. I would recommend this place to anybody if they’re looking for a strong recovery house that truly cares about your recovery and not about just money So if you’re ready to change your life, don’t miss out on the greatness of harmony because this place is where it’s at