Opioid Use Disorder: Harm Reduction and Pharmacotherapy (Free URI Home Study Program)

Program Goal

According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 100 people in the United States die each day from an opioid overdose. The intersection of a global pandemic and an opioid epidemic has caused healthcare workers to encounter an increasing number of patients who have opioid use disorder in addition to complex social, behavioral, and medical issues. The coronavirus pandemic is having detrimental impacts on individuals with opioid use disorder. Social isolation, decreased access to medications or illicit drug supply, and reduced access to harm-reduction strategies all compound the challenges facing a vulnerable population.

After completing this program, healthcare providers will be able to identify a person with opioid use disorder and recall harm reduction strategies for treating patients. Healthcare workers will also be able to understand medications for treatment of OUD and become familiar with overdose prevention steps and available treatments to reduce the effects of an opioid overdose.

Target Audience

Licensed mental health counselors (LMHC), nurses, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and social workers.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this learning activity, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, and licensed mental health counselors will be able to:

• Define diagnostic criteria for opioid use disorder (OUD)
• Explain what harm reduction is and give examples of harm reduction in OUD
• Describe medications for treatment of OUD
• Discuss harm reduction strategies and medications for OUD to clinical scenarios

Upon completion of this learning activity, pharmacy technicians will be able to:

• Explain what harm reduction is and give examples of harm reduction in OUD
• Describe medications for treatment of OUD

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Continuing Education Credits

Licensed Mental Health Counselors: This activity was reviewed and approved by the Rhode Island Mental Health Counselor’s Association for 1.0 contact hour.

Nurses: This continuing nursing professional development activity was approved by the Rhode Island State Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.” Awarding: 1.0 Contact Hour Pharmacology Activity Approval Number: 20-091120-02                Release date: September 14, 2020 Expiration Date: September 11, 2022.

Pharmacy: The University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This is a knowledge-based program. Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians will receive 1.0 Contact Hour (0.1 CEU) for this educational activity. Pharmacists UAN: 0060-0000-20-029-H08-P Pharmacy Technicians UAN: 0060-0000-20-029-H08-T Expiration date: 6/10/2023.

Social Work: This activity was approved by Rhode Island College School of Social Work, Continuing Education in Social Work for 1.0 credit hour.

Requirements for Credit

Computer with audio capabilities and internet access, viewing the entire program, and completing the online program evaluations. Partial credit is not available. Evaluations must be completed at www.uripharmacycpd.org  within 60 days of participation.

Faculty

Stephanie Preite, PharmD, PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident, Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Nicole Stark, PharmD, PGY-1 Clinical Pharmacy Resident, Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Faculty Disclosure

The faculty have no actual or potential conflicts of interest in relation to this program.

Program Support

This program is supported by funding from the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services Healthcare Workforce Transformation Program.