Rising Overdose Deaths Call for Action: Naloxone Saves Lives
The opioid crisis has persisted amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and there has been an increase in overdose related deaths. Naloxone, with its increased availability and a variety of administration methods, is a major strategy to prevent deaths from overdose. This module will provide a brief history and overview of the severity of the opioid epidemic, and review common opioids. The review of available methods to administer naloxone, and the availability of a standing order (in Massachusetts) will equip pharmacists to take action helping patients and the communities they serve.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, the participant will be able to:
- Discuss the progression of the opioid epidemic in the U.S.
- Identify medications indicated for opioid use disorder.
- Explain the proper use of naloxone.
- Explain the application of standing order in MA.
Presenter
Alexandria Nudo, PharmD, is a first-year clinical operations postdoctoral fellow in translational clinical oncology (TCO) at Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research based in Cambridge, MA. She graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) where she attained her PharmD in May 2021. During pharmacy school, she worked as a pharmacy intern at Walgreens and Advocate Christ Medical Center.
Vishva Patel, PharmD, is a first-year Regulatory Affairs fellow at Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research based in Cambridge, MA. She graduated from MCPHS where she attained her PharmD in May 2018. She worked as a regulatory professional prior to her fellowship in medical devices at Ethicon Inc.
Fellowship mentor: Phung On, PharmD, BCPS, Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Registration Fee: This module is provided free of charge to all.
Release Date: July 14, 2022
Expiration Date: July 14, 2023
ACPE UAN: 0026-0000-22-007-H01-P | Knowledge
ACPE Topic Designator: Disease State Management/Drug Therapy
Contact Hours: 0.5 (0.05 CEU)
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences designates this activity for a total of 0.5 contact hours (0.05 CEUs).
The policy of Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is ensuring balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all of its educational activities. Any individuals involved in planning or content creation for a continuing education activity are required to disclose financial relationships with ineligible companies that have occurred within the last 24 months. The intent of the policy is to identify and mitigate potential conflicts of interest that may affect the activity. All clinical medicine recommendations must be based on evidence accepted within the medical profession.
Alexandria Nudo and Vishva Patel do not hold relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.
Fellowship mentor, Phung On, does not hold relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Continuing Education staff members hold no financial relationships with ineligible companies related to the content of this presentation.
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences will identify, review, and mitigate all conflicts of interest disclosed prior to delivery of an educational activity to learners. Disclosure of a relationship is not intended to suggest or condone bias in any presentation, but provides participants with information that may be of potential importance when they are evaluating content.