The Bournewood Educational Foundation, Inc. presents
Monthly Medical Grand Rounds
at Bournewood
Monday, May 23, 2016
12 noon in the Intervale Living Room
Bournewood Hospital
300 South Street, Brookline, MA
The Opioid Epidemic and the Emerging Trends of Non-medical Prescription Drug Use Among Opioid Users: Our Clinical Dilemma
presented by
Hector A. Colon-Rivera, MD, CMRO
Chief Resident in Psychiatry, Boston University Medical Center
Chief Resident, Bournewood Hospital
The epidemic of opioid overdoses in Massachusetts calls for an increase in training for both the community and health providers. A study indicates that almost 70 percent of intravenous drug users have witnessed an overdose and at least 62 percent have tried to respond either by calling for help or by trying remedies learned from friends or other drug users. Also, the significant shift in the non-medical use of prescription drugs has led to new patterns of abuse and increased risk of negative consequences, particularly among opioid dependent patients. By increasing awareness and focusing on good prescribing practices, clinicians can minimize this risk and provide better care to their patients.
Learning Objectives
Following this presentation, participants will be able to
- Describe the national epidemic of opioid overdoses;
- Describe some community-based programs geared to decreasing opioid overdoses;
- Identify the prescription drugs that are most subject to abuse;
- Describe the negative effects of abuse of these drugs in opioid dependent patients;
- And discuss prescribing practices that may minimize abuse of prescription drugs.
Bournewood Hospital designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit (TM). Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Bournewood Hospital is accredited by the Massachusetts Medical Society to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Dr. Colon-Rivera reports no financial relationships to industry which could be considered a conflict of interest.
