Overdose is the leading cause of accidental injury death in the United States surpassing motor vehicle crashes. Opioids, prescribed for pain and used illicitly, are driving the increases in overdose deaths. Overdose prevention education and prescribing naloxone rescue kits to people at risk for opioid overdose is an emerging strategy to address opioid overdose.

This presentation helps clinicians incorporate overdose prevention education and naloxone rescue kits in to their practice. The module will review the epidemiology of overdose, provide the rationale and the scope of existing overdose prevention education and naloxone rescue kit programs, describe how to educate patients about overdose risk reduction, and prescribe naloxone rescue kits.

Alexander Y. Walley, MD, MSc | Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center; Association for Medical Education and Research in Substance Abuse (AMERSA)

Interprofessional Continuing Education credit, AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, and Nursing Contact Hours.

Interpersonal Skills and Communication
Medical Knowledge
Patient Care

At the conclusion of this activity participants should be able to:

Review the epidemiology of opioid overdose
Describe the rationale for and scope of overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) programs
Implement OEND in settings that offer medication for opioid use disorder
Educate patients about overdose risk reduction
Prescribe naloxone rescue kit

In order to receive maximum credit, learners must:

1. Review the materials provided in this module.
2. Earn a minimum cumulative score of 80% on the post-test.
3. Complete an evaluation to assess satisfaction and plans for individual and/or team practice change.
4. Follow instructions at the end of the course regarding how to retrieve a certificate.*

*Credit will not be awarded unless all components of the program are completed. Partial credit will not be awarded.