Opioid Overdose Prevention

DESCRIPTION: 

Opioid overdose is a critical public health problem in Massachusetts. Last year over 1000 Massachusetts residents experienced a fatal opioid overdose. Most of these individuals had received addiction treatment services in the past but were not able to protect themselves from a fatal overdose.

 

This all-day workshop will introduce participants to the neurobiology of opioid addiction focusing on the brain changes resulting from long-term opioid use and the implications for addiction treatment. We will examine the risk factors for opioid overdose and strategies for addressing each risk factor. We will focus on client education and counseling designed to reduce risks for opioid relapses and overdoses. Finally we will provide training on using Narcan for reversing an opioid overdose.



OBJECTIVES:

Upon completion of this course, participants will:

• Understand the basic neurobiology of opioid addiction for mental health and substance abuse.
• List at least 5 risk factors for opioid overdose.
• Discuss educational and counseling strategies for reducing the risk of opioid overdose for mental health and substance abuse.
• Discuss resource or support needs of people in treatment for opioid addiction.
• Demonstrate competence in initiating conversations about relapse and opioid overdose risks for mental health and substance abuse.
• Demonstrate how to develop an opioid relapse and overdose prevention plan.
• Demonstrate how to assess for an overdose.
• Explain how Naloxone works.
• Discriminate between rescue breathing and CPR.
• Demonstrate how to store, assemble and administer nasal Narcan.
• Explain the implications of fentanyl in the illicit opioid supply.

SPONSORED BY: 

MA Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Addiction Services, Praxis & AdCare Educational Institute, Inc.