Educational Activities Archives

Emergency Department Bridge Programs allow ED physicians to connect patients in the ED with comprehensive addiction care. While the benefits of bridge programs for patients with opioid use disorder are known, what’s less understood is how these programs affect the lives of the providers themselves. For a paper published in Academic Emergency Medicine last year, researchers interviewed providers about these programs and found that patients were not the only benefactors.

Despite significant advancements in addiction treatment, stigma remains one of the greatest barriers to care for individuals struggling with substance use disorder (SUD). Among healthcare professionals, stigma can manifest in ways that impact patient outcomes, access to care, and overall recovery success. This episode will explore how leveraging peers—those with lived experience in recovery—can be a powerful tool in combating stigma in medical settings. The episode will discuss real-world applications of peer support, the latest statistics on stigma in healthcare, and actionable strategies for fostering a more compassionate approach to SUD treatment.

This episode explores the unique challenges faced by individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) in Appalachia, focusing on the ways stigma and healthcare access impact SUD outcomes in these communities. Starting with an examination of the historical events and media portrayals that have shaped perceptions of Appalachia, the episode highlights the key social, economic, and political drivers behind the SUD crisis in this region. Drawing from recent research and personal experience caring for this population, Kate Roberts, MA, MSW, LCSW in conversation with Dr. Devin Oller and Kayla Strother, MSN, AGPCNP-C share strategies for addressing stigma and delivering effective care for people living with SUD in Appalachia.

This session explores the clinical and policy landscape of providing medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in jails, prisons, and reentry settings. Dr. Arthur Robin Williams and Dr. Peter Treitler review recent research on the effectiveness of MOUD in reducing overdose and improving post-release treatment engagement. The session highlights key differences among methadone, buprenorphine, and extended-release naltrexone, including regulatory and logistical considerations unique to correctional environments. Learners will examine policy updates, case-based examples, and implementation strategies that support evidence-based treatment access. The session also addresses interdisciplinary collaboration, diversion concerns, and continuity of care across incarceration and reentry.

Many cities, and especially cities with high real estate prices, have clearly defined zones in which public drug use and sales are implicitly tolerated while more stringent enforcement continues everywhere else. Given that addiction services (like methadone clinics or residential programs) are often mobilized to serve these zones and/or deliberately segregated to remain within them–what should our relationship to these zones be as addiction care providers? The podcast will explore the challenges, problems, and opportunities these zones can create for people who use drugs and the providers who care for them.

This educational activity, presented by Dr. Phillip Coffin, explores the evolving landscape of methamphetamine use amidst the growing presence of fentanyl. Attendees will gain insights into current morbidity and mortality trends, the physiological mechanisms behind methamphetamine toxicity, and evidence-based interventions for managing methamphetamine use disorder (MeUD). Emphasis will be placed on comprehensive prevention, treatment strategies, and addressing the long-term cardiovascular and neuropsychiatric impacts associated with chronic use.