Description
Every 7 minutes in our country, a person dies from prescription drug overdose, while a child is also born approximately every 30 minutes dependent (not addicted!) upon opioids. How do we as healthcare professionals offer non-stigmatic patient care and contribute to the progress of society in the right direction? Addiction, classified as substance-use disorder, is likened to an iceberg or a weed, in that the issues underneath the surface are typically even more complicated than what is viewed from above. Thus, in this continuing education discussion, we will review the core concepts and understandings of opioid-use disorder, commonly referred to as opioid addiction. We will then discuss the medication-assisted treatments of methadone and buprenorphine, including key clinical pearls that will immediately improve one’s patient care. Both methadone and buprenorphine are continually improving and savings lives, yet each comes with its own baggage that we, as healthcare professionals, need to stay abreast on. This discussion is part of the overall Substances of Abuse Specialty Pharmacist (SASP) certificate training program. So join us for a conversation on addiction that will be sure to impact your patient care, maybe your own opinions, and, perhaps, even your holiday family meal conversations!