Educational Activities Archives

This session explores the complex relationship between nicotine and opioid use, including shared biological pathways and how co-use can intensify pain, cravings, and withdrawal. Patients may rely on nicotine to manage stress or withdrawal symptoms, creating a reinforcing cycle that complicates recovery. Integrating treatment for both conditions is increasingly recognized as essential to improving long-term outcomes.

Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is an evidence-based approach to managing patients with or at risk for SUD. This is a standardized core curriculum in SUD and SBIRT, designed for U.S. dental schools. Dental students who take and pass the curriculum modules would have achieved an understanding of the knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes needed to carry out SBIRT in a dental setting. 

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.

Polysubstance use has been more the rule than the exception in treating substance use problems. The problem can complicate treatment and add significantly to the morbidity of the disease. This webinar will review the co-occurrence of various drug use disorders and how to more effectively address the patient and treat the disorder.

Motivational interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based approach to guide and enhance conversations when working with patients to promote positive behavior change. Originally developed in the context of treating substance use disorders, MI is a collaborative method of communication that pays particular attention to the language of change. MI helps to strengthen intrinsic motivation for change by exploring the patient’s own reasons for change by communicating the spirit of acceptance, partnership, empowerment, and compassion. This educational activity will introduce key MI concepts, including the four tasks, the spirit of MI, and skills for evoking change talk.

Other substance use disorders can often co-occur with opioid use disorder (OUD). These can include benzodiazepines and other tranquilizers, cocaine and stimulants, and cannabis. Alcohol and nicotine are also considered commonly used substances alongside opioids. In this educational activity, these other substances will be reviewed leading to a discussion of principles of diagnosis and evaluation of treatment for each substance by themselves, and in the context of OUD.