Program Summary:  This course highlights an analysis of opioid use in the context of prescription opioid policy changes.  Participants in the study describe their personal experiences with opioid use over time, starting with prescription opioid use.  As the opioid crisis became a public health crisis, many new measures and policies were quickly initiated to limit the prescribing, diversion, and nonmedical use of prescription opioids.  The course describes the unintended consequences from these policy changes, including an escalation of opioid use for some people.  Discontinuation of prescription opioids and pain management are discussed and include common misconceptions about pain managment.  A second reading covers the topics of identifying OUD, diagnostic criteria, evidence-based treatment, and nonopioid therapies for pain management.

This course is recommended for social workers and counselors and is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.  
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Program Summary:   This course explores young adult pathways to opioid and non-medical prescription opioid use with implications for prevention.  The course highlights a qualitative and quantitative research study of thirty young adults in recovery from OUD.  Risk factors, protective factors, and main themes are identified.  Recommendations for prevention are offered and include a discussion of supply-side and demand-side strategies.  About Prescription Opioids is the second reading for the course and includes information on pain management, side effects of opioids, prescription opioid misuse, and risk for overdose.

This course is recommended for social workers and counselors and is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.  
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Program Summary:  This course examines evidence-based, whole-person care for pregnant people with opioid use disorder.  The course offers recommendations and guidance about OUD medication during pregnancy and highlights considerations for screening and assessment, changing pharmacotherapy during pregnancy, admission and discharge, polysubstance use, and treating the ‘whole person.’

This course is recommended for social workers and counselors and is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.   Read the complete description of this course…..

Program Summary:  This course offers basic overdose education for recognizing and responding to an opioid overdose.  The course highlights overdose causes, risks, signs, and prevention.  Opioid overdose reversal medications are discussed and overdose response steps are given.  This course is intended to complement and not replace overdose prevention and response training.

This course is recommended for social workers and counselors and is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.   Read the complete description of this course…..

Program Summary:  This course explores current research related to medications to treat opioid use disorder.  The course offers an overview of methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone and compares their effectiveness and how they work.  Misconceptions, misunderstandings, and diversion risks are discussed.  The course examines opioid use disorder treatment for special populations, including those with HIV, those in the military, those in the criminal justice system, and pregnant mothers.

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists and is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice. Read the complete description of this course…..

Program Summary:  This course examines national data and explores the impact of opioid misuse on the Hispanic Latino community.  It includes a discussion of sociocultural factors, such as immigration issues, religion, stigma, and a lack of culturally responsive prevention and treatment.  Strategies to address opioid misuse are given, including an overview of evidence-based treatment recommendations and medication-assisted treatment.

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists and it is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.  

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Program Summary:    This course explores options for assessing, diagnosing, and treating drug use and prescription medication misuse in older adults.  DSM-5 criteria for SUD are given and include consideration for older adults.  Age-specific treatment options and the SUD treatment continuum of care are examined.  The reading includes Chapter 5 of SAMHSA’s TIP 26 Treating Substance Use Disorder in Older Adults.

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists and it is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.  

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Program Summary:  This course describes the impact of the opioid crisis on the Black/African American community and discusses challenges to prevention, treatment, and recovery.  The course includes national data on opioid misuse and offers an overview of evidence-based treatment practices and key strategies.  Medication-assisted treatment and psychosocial interventions are explored and include a review of methadone, buprenorphine, naltrexone, and naloxone.

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists and it is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.   Read the complete description of this course…..