Educational Activities Archives

Medical complications are common among patients who inject drugs. Signs and symptoms of acute or chronic infectious diseases often prompt patients to seek medical care. The time of presentation for complications related to injection drug use presents an opportunity to screen and employ early intervention strategies and engage individuals in addiction treatment. This course reviews features of skin and soft tissue infections among people who inject drugs, reviews risk factors for Hepatitis C (HCV) and HIV, describes prevention interventions for HCV and HIV, and discusses treatment approaches for HCV and HIV in patients with opioid use disorder.

Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) are life-saving, yet three-quarters of people who need them still can’t access them. This episode examines how pharmacy-based models are closing gaps in addiction care deserts, how pharmacists can strengthen interdisciplinary care teams, and why fair reimbursement for pharmacist services matters for sustaining care in the communities hit hardest by overdose.

Substance Use Disorders in Older Adults is a growing problem not only in the United States but throughout the developed world. The Baby Boomer generation, born between 1946 and 1964, is turning 62-80 years old this year. This group is presenting with more Substance Use Disorders and need for substance use treatment now. The use of an artificial cut off age of 65 years as the definition of elderly or old is arbitrary, and this will be discussed. The course will look at the prevalence, screening and treatment of non-medical use of prescription drugs and illicit opioids, as well as use of tobacco, alcohol, stimulants and cocaine, marijuana, and non-opioid sedative hypnotic agents. There are interactive questions throughout the course to help digest and discuss the information presented.

Join us for this evidence-based course that cuts through the confusion, dispels longstanding myths, and gives you the practical knowledge to make confident, compassionate treatment decisions. You will leave with a clear understanding of when and how to use buprenorphine or methadone, how to employ shared-decision making with patients through the realities of neonatal withdrawal, and how to build a postpartum care plan that supports both mother and child long after delivery. Whether you are new to this patient population or looking to sharpen your clinical approach, this course meets you where you are and empowers you to do more.

Opioids are commonly prescribed for chronic pain, but are also associated with a risk for serious harms, including overdose and opioid use disorder. This course reviews risk factors for opioid misuse, opioid use disorder, and overdose in patients with chronic pain, explains methods for screening and assessing for problematic opioid use, reviews methods for mitigating risks associated with prescribed opioids, and details non-opioid treatment approaches for pain. The course is based on principles in the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s guideline on opioids for chronic pain and reviews recent evidence on benefits and harms of opioids.

This 90-minute webinar examines common ethical challenges encountered by certified addiction counselors, clinical supervisors and interns working with individuals affected by opioid, stimulant, and other substance use disorders. Participants will review core ethical principles, boundary management, confidentiality concerns, and decision-making frameworks relevant to real-world practice. Through case examples and guided discussion, the session equips attendees with practical tools to identify ethical risks early and respond in ways that protect clients, professionals, and the integrity of treatment services.