Preventing and Reducing Opioid Use Disorder (PROUD)

VISION:
A healthier future for Nevada’s veterans and their families by eliminating barriers to opioid treatment, reducing stigma through education, and ensuring compassionate, affordable access to life-saving care and support.

MISSION:
Reduce the impact of opioid use disorder (OUD) on veterans and their families through education, enhanced treatment access, and assistance for treatment of OUD.

• Increase access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) treatment
• Increase access to Behavioral Health treatment, screenings, and appointments for MOUD treatment
• Improve public health outcomes of veterans and their families regarding OUD

WHAT IS PROUD?
The purpose of NDVS Opioid Prevention Program is to Prevent and Reduce Opioid Use Disorder (PROUD) in Nevada among veterans and their families. The program has adopted the acronym PROUD and will be working to improve health outcomes of Nevada veterans and their families by providing increased access to treatment and behavioral health services.

A PROUD NEVADA
To improve the lives of veterans and their families affected by opioid use disorder and prevent overdoses across the Silver State, PROUD will increase access for veterans and their families to resources for OUD. Proud will partner with other agencies across the state to promote and conduct prevention, treatment and recovery efforts across Nevada.

More than 2 million people in the U.S. have an opioid use disorder (OUD) related to prescription opioids. Another quarter of a million people have an OUD related to heroin. U.S. military veterans have been heavily impacted by the opioid overdose crisis, with drug overdose mortality rates increasing by 53% from 2010–2019.

For people who want to reduce or stop using opioids, evidence-based approaches are available to do this safely. Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) are one such approach, and they’re most effective for long-term success when someone chooses to start treatment (versus being coerced or mandated). The PROUD program hopes to assistance veterans and their families in accessing MOUD.

Fatal overdose is the leading cause of death for people in the U.S. under 50 years old. More than 800,000 people died from fatal overdoses in the U.S. from 1999-2018. The rate of overdose deaths today has increased more than five-fold since 1999. We are experiencing an overdose crisis in Nevada with a Opioid Overdose death rate of 26.8 per 100,000 residents as of 2023. U.S. military veterans have been heavily impacted by the opioid overdose crisis, with drug overdose mortality rates increasing by 53% from 2010–2019.
Providing overdose prevention, recognition, and response education to people who use drugs, their neighbors, friends, families, and the service providers who work with them is a harm reduction intervention that saves lives. Heroin and other opioid overdoses are particularly amenable to intervention because risk factors are well understood and there is a safe antidote — naloxone.

WHO DO WE SUPPORT?
PROUD is facilitated and maintained by the Nevada Department of Veterans Services. This program is designed to bridge the gap in services for veterans and their family members when seeking MOUD. For the purpose of this program family is defined as including parents, spouse, and children.

For any questions on eligibility or program assistance please reach out to PROUD@veterns.nv.gov