The Ongoing Opioid Epidemic Part 2: Lessons Learned and Looking Ahead

Opioid use and its consequences continue to be a serious problem across the United States. The opioid landscape has experienced several recent shifts due to changes in demand and supply, the social determinants of health, and other risk and protective factors. The introduction of fentanyl into the ongoing epidemic was one such change. Due to its extreme potency, fentanyl is responsible for an ever-increasing number of fatal overdoses each year. Another change has been the spread of xylazine (“tranq”) use. Xylazine is a non-opioid sedative that is frequently used in conjunction with opioids to amplify and extend their effects. Use of each of these substances can occur intentionally or unintentionally, and both present challenges to prevention professionals.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This webinar will discuss evidence-based prevention interventions for addressing opioid use and review lessons learned from years of research on the epidemic. It will summarize use and overdose prevention best practices, including the role of harm reduction efforts beyond naloxone distribution. The webinar will also discuss strategies for polysubstance use prevention and the need for further studies. Additionally, it will overview the importance of collaboration and the ways key stakeholders can support opioid prevention efforts. Lastly, the webinar will provide a small group discussion peer learning opportunity for participants.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this training, participants will be able to:

1. Assess evidence-based and promising practices for preventing opioid use and overdoses.
2. Describe opportunities for improving polysubstance use prevention.
3. Compare strategies for expanding opioid prevention collaborative activities.
4. Identify other lessons learned from the opioid epidemic.