Hospitals and Opioid Misuse Prevention: Practical Strategies to Help Combat the Opioid Epidemic

The opioid epidemic continues to grow across the country and in Washington state. Opioid deaths increased by 35% in both 2020 and 2021, and the increase in synthetic opioids such as fentanyl are cause for concern. Much work is occurring to promote treatment strategies, expand access to care, and increase availability of life-saving medications like Naloxone, but there is also an opportunity to increase prevention activities. Prevention must be part of our approach to this challenge and hospitals can play an active role in preventing opioid misuse.

Join us on Friday, June 9^th, 9-10:30am, for Hospitals and Opioid Misuse Prevention: Practical Strategies to Help Combat the Opioid Epidemic, to learn ways hospitals across the state can implement simple prevention strategies. After this 90-minute webinar, participants be able to:

• describe the history of the opioid epidemic, including ways it was impacted by hospitals and healthcare leaders.
• share general strategies for changing culture in healthcare to dismantle individual and institutional stigma.
• define opioid misuse and prevention strategies for opioid misuse.
• identify forms of opioid misuse prevention appropriate in hospital settings, including best practices on opioid prescribing, alternatives to opioid prescribing, and implementing facility changes such as drug takeback kiosks.

Register here for this webinar. The recording and slides will be shared with all registrants following the event. This offering will provide 1.5 continuing education contact hours (CECH) for individuals who attend live.