According to the most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 2.1 million people met the criteria for opioid use disorder, and 11.4 million people misused opioids within the last year, highlighting the urgency of the current opioid crisis and the need to expand access to evidence based treatment and recovery services. 

Medicated assisted treatment is considered to be the most effective treatment for individuals who have an opioid use disorder. As a secondary prevention strategy, it is imperative that providers understand how medicated assisted treatment works in order to effectively communicate its benefits to persons with opioid use disorders and make appropriate referrals.

This interactive 6-hour training will review the impact of chronic opioid use on the brain, cognitive impairment, compulsivity factors, and physical dependence of opioid use disorder, and how medication assisted treatment effectively addresses the various symptoms of opioid use. Participants will engage in experiential activities that will help build skills in communicating the effectiveness of medicated assisted treatment, and review the essential elements of successful treatment referrals that will help facilitate a pathway to attainable and sustainable recovery for persons with opioid use disorder.