Since 2017, collaborative efforts have led to a significant 41% reduction in daily opioid prescriptions in Utah.
(PRUnderground) January 28th, 2025
In celebration of the major reduction in daily opioid prescriptions in Utah, leaders from Intermountain Health and the Utah Department of Health and Human Services gathered at Intermountain Utah Valley Hospital in Provo to unveil a large visual display highlighting this important achievement and the many efforts to reduce opioid overuse and addiction in the community.
Since 2017, collaborative efforts among health systems, healthcare providers, the state of Utah, community coalitions and patients have led to a significant 41% reduction in daily opioid prescriptions.
Data from Utah’s Controlled Substance Database shows a decline in daily prescriptions from 7,000 in 2017 to 4,102 in 2023.
To commemorate this milestone, Intermountain Health and the statewide opioid prescription misuse prevention campaign, Know Your Script, unveiled a 20-foot chandelier installation at Intermountain Utah Valley Hospital. This new chandelier symbolizes the ongoing and continued commitment to reducing opioid prescriptions in the state.
A previous version of this pill bottle chandelier was displayed in the lobby of Intermountain McKay Dee Hospital in 2017, representing the 7,000 daily prescriptions recorded at that time.
It was updated again in 2023 to show a 26% reduction from 2017, and the current installation highlights an impressive 21% decrease since then – nearly doubling the reduction acknowledged by leaders in 2023.
Playing a crucial role in this achievement, Intermountain Health has reduced the number of prescribed pills by 13,710,955 pills between 2017-2024 – a reduction of 45% since 2017 – by using alternative methods to help patients effectively manage their pain.
“At Intermountain Health, we make it a priority to promote awareness, educate, and discuss acute and chronic pain with our patients, to help them live a functional, high-quality life,” said Nathan Richards, MD, medical director of Intermountain Utah Valley Hospital. “This display represents all the hard work of our caregivers and patients and many lives saved.”
To showcase the importance of opioid education across the state, Terry Olsen shared a personal story about her son Dane, whose battle with addiction began after an ATV accident in 2007 that nearly claimed his leg.
Following the accident, Dane endured years of surgeries and was prescribed opioids to manage his pain. He battled years of addiction, which eventually led to his death from a heroin overdose at just 25-years-old. This past November marks 10 years since Terry lost her son.
“If this work saves even one family from the pain we’ve endured, then Dane’s story will have made a difference,” said Terry, who now has dedicated her life to educating and supporting families through her work with Changes Parent Support Network, Sobriety Foundation, Utah County Opioid Task Force, The Utah Opioid Task Force and the Survivors Council of the Utah State Medical Examiner’s office.
According to the most recent data from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, 606 Utahns died as a result of a drug overdose in 2023 with 75% of those deaths being opioid-related. The proportion of overdoses involving at least one opioid prescription has decreased from 66% in 2014 to 28% in 2023.
There have been concentrated efforts across the state to reduce these numbers, including the Know Your Script campaign, which plays a pivotal role in educating communities on alternative solutions and implementing research-based prevention strategies.
“This significant reduction in opioid prescriptions in Utah highlights the effectiveness of focused efforts to address this issue,” said Stacey Bank, MD, executive medical director of DHHS. “It is a true testament to the ongoing partnership and dedication of everyone involved in fighting opioid misuse in the state. Our department is committed to continuing these prevention efforts and will keep working to reduce opioid prescription misuse in Utah.”
“Intermountain Health is proud to partner with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services to educate Utahns on the risks of misuse of prescription medication so they are empowered with knowledge and healthy habits to take control over their health,” said Kim Compagni, Intermountain Health assistant vice president for pain management services. “We hope this display will be a visual reminder of the work that’s been done, and the work that’s still to come.”
To learn more about how to reduce opioid prescription misuse, visit knowyourscript.org.
About Intermountain Health
Headquartered in Utah with locations in six states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a not-for-profit system of 34 hospitals, approximately 400 clinics, medical groups with some 4,600 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For up-to-date information and announcements, please see the Intermountain Health newsroom at https://intermountainhealthcare.org/news.
The post Opioid Prescriptions Down 41% in Utah According to Intermountain Health and Utah Dept of Health first appeared on
Original Press Release.
