Opioid Overdose Prevention Training
This training focuses on education designed to reduce risks for opioid relapses and overdoses. We emphasize harm reduction strategies for decreasing risk. We also provide training on using Narcan for reversing an opioid overdose.
Opioid Overdose Prevention Agenda
Section1: Introduction to Opioid Abuse
The instructor will provide details regarding the history of opioids how opiate use spread both in Massachusetts and the U.S. and describe demographics for use and overdose. Instructor will provide information on the difference between fentanyl and other opiates and discuss the economics of dealing fentanyl and other opiates.
Section 2: Integration of Harm Reduction Techniques for Opioid Overdose Prevention
The instructor will discuss the physiology and risk factors of an overdose and introduce the basic principles of harm reduction and give concrete examples of harm reduction as a means to prevent or decrease the risks of opioid overdose. The instructor will lead participant in determining Harm Reduction strategies.
Section 3: Responding to an Overdose and Naloxone distribution
In this section of the presentation, the instructor will demonstrate how to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose. Special attention will be paid to drugs typically used with opioids and their impact on responding to an overdose. Using a power point with clear visual aids, the instructor will demonstrate the steps for responding to an overdose, including assessment, rescue breathing, administration of Narcan and the rescue position. The instructor will also lead a discussion of “Good Samaritan” laws and their impact on overdose prevention. The instructor will demonstrate how to store and administer nasal Narcan.
At the conclusion of the training, participants will be able to:
- Describe how a person’s biology contributes to the development of an opioid use disorder
- Review the history of opioids leading up to the current epidemic
- Identify risk factors for opioid overdose and corresponding harm reduction strategies
- Demonstrate how to assess for an opioid overdose
- Explain three critical actions needed to reverse an opioid overdose
- Describe how to administer and store Naloxone
- Explain how Naloxone works to reverse opioid overdose