Description

This module will cover topics related to opioid use disorder, beginning with a review of the epidemiology of the current opioid crisis facing our country. You will then examine in detail, the pharmacology of opioids and how to identify intoxication and withdrawal in your patients.

To further expand your knowledge, you will learn how to assess and diagnose your patients for an opioid use disorder by using the DSM-5 assessment criteria.

The module will round out with harm reduction and prevention techniques, medication for addiction treatment options and medical co-morbidities.

Module Objectives

After completing this module you will be able to:

1. Describe epidemiologic features of opioid use disorders using national U.S. data sources, including prevalence, trends, correlates and risk factors.
2. Describe the pharmacokinetic properties and pharmacological actions of various opioids at opioid receptor subtypes in different brain regions, and interpret how these drug actions translate into clinical practice.
3. Identify and differentiate the signs and symptoms associated with opioid intoxication and withdrawal.
4. Interpret the DSM-5 criteria for diagnosis of Opioid Use Disorder and severity of symptoms and recognize how this information applies to the continuum of care for patients.
5. Discuss prevention services that focus on helping patients make healthy choices or change harmful behaviors.
6. Evaluate the various ways in which policies, programs and interventions have been proven to reduce the harmful effects associated with opioid use disorders.
7. Explain the use of pharmacologic interventions (opioid agonists, partial agonists and opioid antagonists) for detoxifying and managing withdrawal symptoms in patients dependent on opioids in a safe and effective manner.
8. State the complex medical co-morbidities that are common among patients with opioid use disorder, particularly HIV, AIDS, viral hepatitis, and hypertension.
9. Recognize the various types of evidence-based screening tools, referral, and care management strategies.