Opioid Addiction 2.0

Course overview

Today, a national crisis of opioid addiction is sweeping the country. According to the CDC, 95 people die every day from an opioid overdose. In 2016, more than 34,000 lives were lost to opioids. Mental health and substance abuse providers, as well as the Church, need to know how to effectively respond to the overwhelming misuse of these potent drugs. How did we get here? Why is opioid addiction so difficult to overcome? What continues to drive this crisis? How do we treat this growing problem? Opioid Addiction 2.0 is a 3-hour course that answers these questions. The academic presenters are Michael Lyles, MD, David Jenkins, PsyD, Linda Mintle, PhD, and Eric Scalise, PhD. Over the past several years, the United States has been overwhelmed with a growing opioid crisis that has now reached epidemic proportions. National agencies and treatment centers are actively searching for answers. Dr. Michael Lyles addresses the scope of the problem, examines some of the underlying causes, and looks at the human toll, as well as the devastating effects on normal brain functioning. Understanding the current opioid crisis is critical to developing an overall strategy for comprehensive outreach and care. Dr. David Jenkins and Dr. Linda Mintle review emerging trends leading to addiction, the addiction process, the use of certain medications, and how opioid use has impacted individuals, families, churches, and entire communities. In Part II, Dr. David Jenkins, Dr. Linda Mintle and Dr. Eric Scalise continue their discussion of opioid addiction and also explore various treatment options and proper protocols for pain management, including non-pharmacological strategies. A discussion on prevention, the role of faith, and the potential influence of the Church is also offered.