The steadily increasing opioid overdose death rates add to the urgency of the opioid epidemic as a public health crisis, with Hispanic, African American and American Indian communities reflecting detrimental opioid death rate increases of their own, 137%, 213%, and 236% prospectively.

Research has demonstrated that medication assistance treatment (MAT) along with behavioral interventions, (Addiction counseling, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Recovery Support Services, etc.), is the most effective approach to treat opioid use disorders, (OUD). This interactive training will review how MAT works to address alcohol and opioid use disorders, the benefits of MAT to decrease overdoses and overdose deaths, increase social functioning and treatment retention, and enhance the pathway to sustainable recovery.