Opioid Overdose Prevention

Between 2013 and 2016, the number of opioid-related deaths in Massachusetts increased by 91 percent. Between 2016 and 2017, the state saw a 5 percent decrease in opioid-related deaths which can be attributed to less stigma and increased resources and services for people with a substance use disorder.

This training focuses on client education and counseling designed to reduce risks for opioid relapses and overdoses. We emphasize harm reduction strategies for decreasing risk. We also provide training on using Narcan for reversing an opioid overdose. To learn more about this training, review the agenda.

At the conclusion of the training, participants will be able to:

• Describe how a person’s biology contributes to the development of an opioid use disorder
• Review the history of opioids leading up to the current epidemic
• Identify risk factors for opioid overdose and corresponding harm reduction strategies
• Demonstrate how to assess for an opioid overdose
• Explain three critical actions needed to reverse an opioid overdose
• Describe how to administer and store naloxone
• Explain how naloxone works to reverse opioid overdose
• Employ key discussion points for educating clients on opioid overdose prevention