The Opioid epidemic is one of the worst epidemics that has affected the USA and Canada over the past two decades with nearly 600,000 deaths, and an estimated 1.2 million could die from opioid overdose by 2029.
As the opioid crisis continues to grow, eLearning is emerging as a vital tool to educate nurses, social workers, school support personnel and more.
Catherine Finn, deputy editor at Harvard Health Publications, said he has travelled far and wide across the country attending conferences about opioid use and addiction. He has learned that folks in medicine, government and education need to reduce the stigma of addiction and educate to prevent overdose.
Using technology as a preventive measure, The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has developed a course titled “Combating the Opioid Crisis.”
The learning outcomes of this course include:
- Description of the opioid crisis
- Identifying the individuals who are most at risk for opioid addiction
- Identifying the critical psychological signs of an overdose
- Administering naloxone
- Explaining the treatment options
- Defining medically assisted treatment
- Supporting those in recovery
Additionally, the American Society of Addiction Medicine is also pouring resources into its online education options.
It offers both no-cost courses and paid courses where the latter are for doctors preparing for Addiction Board Prevention Medicine (ABPM) certification/recertification. The online learning tools include study materials including definitions, chapter overviews and practice test questions and answers. Free learning courses include educating the public about opioid addiction, its dangers and more.
Source: thelancet.com
