Overview

This course will empower non-prescribing providers to directly impact the ongoing opioid crisis in the United States through increased knowledge and tools that will transform practice and policies. The course will inform you about the opioid epidemic and provide information and research about evidence-based strategies that are focused on prevention, intervention, education, or policy. This open learning course is designed primarily for non-prescribing healthcare, behavioral health, dental and social services professionals, as well as graduate-level students in these fields. Other individuals may also benefit from this course such as educators and physicians. As a learner, you have the ability to select any or all of the modules and topics that interest you. You can complete the course in a linear or non-linear structure according to your preferred viewing order. This course is taught by experts in the field of opioid prevention, intervention, treatment, and policy. Through lectures, panels and interviews, knowledge checks and quizzes, and additional readings and activities, you can explore topics that are most relevant to your work or practice. After completing this activity, participants will be able to educate their patients on the safe use of opioids and the prevention of misuse, detect risk factors for opioid misuse and abuse, and refer patients to additional evidence-based resources. The course was developed by three University of Michigan programs, including the Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation (IHPI), the Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network (OPEN) and the CDC-funded University of Michigan Injury Prevention Center. The course consists of 6 “lessons” or modules of varying length, for a total commitment of about 16 hours. Course modules include: 1. Epidemiology of the Opioid Crisis 2. Understanding of Pain 3. Prevention of Misuse and Abuse 4. Working with Patients and the Public 5. Addiction Treatment and Recovery 6. Public Policy

Syllabus

Module 1: Epidemiology of the Opioid Crisis

After completing this module, you will be able to explain the factors that contributed to the current opioid crisis.

Module 2: Understanding Pain

After completing this module, you will understand the pathophysiology of pain and its treatment, including what opioids are and how they work.

Module 3: Prevention of Misuse and Abuse

After this module, you will understand how to reduce unintended use and misuse of opioids using various strategies, including prescribing guidelines, surveillance, safe disposal of unused opioids, and intervention messaging.

Module 4: Working with Patients and the Public

After this module, you will be able to identify what strategies and tools you can employ to impact the safe use of opioids across clinical care settings and with a variety of populations.

Module 5: Addiction Treatment and Recovery

After this module, you will be able to describe best practices for assessing and treating opioid use disorder (OUD) and explain the evidence that informs these best practices.