Harm Reduction As Best Practice in Addiction Treatment

Needs Statement

The opioid use epidemic has been on the forefront of societal concerns in the U.S. There has been a push by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and other governmental agencies to expand access to education about opioid use disorder (OUD) and other addictions. At the level of Baylor College of Medicine, we have surveyed our emergency medicine colleagues, nursing and technician staff, and have noted a lack of comfort in recognizing and managing OUD. Based on these gaps, this conference will target the educational gaps of diagnosing OUD and provide referral and treatment options within Baylor College of Medicine, Harris Health System, and the Texas Medical Center.

Educational Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, the participants should be able to:

• Identify and summarize the evolution of the Opioid Epidemic, its impact on our patients, and current needs of our patient population in terms of treatments.
• List and discuss the principles for diagnosing opioid use disorder.
• Discuss options for referral and treatment on outpatient basis in the Baylor, Harris Health system and the medical center.
• Describe the pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatment options for opioid use disorder, including harm reduction measures.

Target Audience

Activity Evaluation

Evaluation by questionnaire will address program content, presentation, and possible bias.

Educational Methods

• Lectures

Accreditation/Credit Designation

Baylor College of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Baylor College of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This activity has been designated by Baylor College of Medicine for 0.50 credit of education in medical ethics and/or professional responsibility.

This activity has been designated by Baylor College of Medicine for 1 credit of education in pain management and the prescription of opioids.

Term of Approval

May 1, 2023 through May 31, 2025. Original release date: May 1, 2023.

Disclosure Policy

Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education (CME) for physicians. BCM is committed to sponsoring CE activities that are scientifically based, accurate, current, and objectively presented.

In accordance with the ACCME Standards for Commercial Support, BCM has implemented a mechanism requiring everyone in a position to control the content of an educational activity (i.e., directors, planning committee members, faculty) to disclose any relevant financial relationships with commercial interests (drug/device companies) and manage/resolve any conflicts of interest prior to the activity. Individuals must disclose to participants the existence or non-existence of financial relationships at the time of the activity or within 24 months prior.

In addition, BCM has requested activity faculty/presenters to disclose to participants any unlabeled use or investigational use of pharmaceutical/device products; to use scientific or generic names (not trade names) in referring to products; and, if necessary to use a trade name, to use the names of similar products or those within a class. Faculty/presenters have also been requested to adhere to the ACCME's validation of clinical content statements.

BCM does not view the existence of financial relationships with commercial interests as implying bias or decreasing the value of a presentation. It is up to participants to determine whether the relationships influence the activity faculty with regard to exposition or conclusions. If at any time during this activity you feel that there has been commercial/promotional bias, notify the Activity Director or Activity Coordinator. Please answer the questions about balance and objectivity in the activity evaluation candidly.

All of the relevant financial relationships listed for these individuals have been mitigated.