Katherine Fornili, DNP, MPH, RN, CARN, FIAAN, Assistant Professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), Dept. of Family & Community Health, Faculty Liaison, Upper Chesapeake Health System-UMSON Academic/Clinical Partnership, President, International Nurses Society on Addictions-IntNSA (Oct 2018-Oct 2020)

The purpose of this webinar is to describe the “opioid epidemic” as a complex phenomenon that consists of multiple, related conditions that cluster and interact synergistically to exacerbate health effects, problem severity and disease progression.

At the conclusion of this activity, learners should be able to:

• Describe the role of suicide in the opioid overdose epidemic;
• Describe at least 3 other conditions that may interact with opioid use and exert cumulative effects to adversely affect individuals and populations at risk of overdose and/or suicide;
• Explain the need for uniform case standards and case definitions for classifying drug-related deaths; and
• Describe how an awareness of “syndemic theory” can be helpful for planning appropriate interventions, advancing health policy and improving health outcomes.