Objectives                                                     

After participating in this educational activity, attendees should be able to:  

Top 10 Things I Get Asked about HIV/HBV/HCV from Addiction Colleagues

• Increase clinician comfort with "non-ideal" infectious disease scenarios, notable related to chronic viral infections and the associated risks.
• Demystify common ID topics and ensure addiction medicine professionals know that they already have exceptional ID knowledge and prowess to treat patients and reduce risks.

Chronic Pain Management

• Describe the prevalence of chronic pain among people with substance use disorders, specifically opioid and alcohol use disorders.
• Describe the harmful impact of co-occurring chronic pain on patient-centered outcomes for substance use.
• Identify effective clinical strategies to help patients with chronic pain.  
  • a)Learn how and when to safely manage pain with opioids in patients with a history of OUD.
  • b)Learn how to select opioid medications to optimize pain relief while preserving patient safety.
  • c)Learn how to safely prescribe opioids and remain in compliance with DEA surveillance, the 2022 CDC guidelines, and other regulations.
• Explain the need for a state-wide task force to urgently develop guidelines for the standard of care for patients with chronic pain and substance use disorders.

Innovations in Long-Acting Injectable Buprenorphine

• Explain the pharmacology, risks and side effects of the newest form of long acting injectable buprenorphine.
• Develop basic understanding of dosing, initiation and maintenance using weekly and monthly injectable buprenorphine.
• Describe the differences between the different long acting injectable buprenorphine formulations.
• Recall processes of patient selection, storage, and administration of injectable buprenorphine. 

Expert Perspectives:  Harm Reductions Updates in Massachusetts

• Gain confidence in sharing harm reduction resources with your patients/clients.
• Describe how safer smoking supplies can reduce risk and complications of substance use.
• Apply effective harm reduction strategies from recent innovations, integrating these approaches into your own practice.

Assessing Protective Concerns in the Setting of Prenatal Substance Exposure:  A Trauma & Justice Informed Approach

• Identify the basics of mandated reporting of suspected child maltreatment.
• Recognize how families may be adversely impacted by involvement with the child welfare system. 
• Recognize how structural racism and other intersectional forms of systemic oppression shape the epidemiology of child welfare involvement.
• Recognize opportunities to improve safety, quality of care, policies and outcomes for families affected by substance use. 

Alcohol Use Disorder Management:  A Missed Opportunity - We Can Do Better

• Identify risks and barriers to effective care for alcohol use disorders (AUD) in outpatient settings.
• Identify several innovative models with potential to improve AUD outcomes and safety in outpatient settings.
• Identify appropriate candidates for outpatient management of alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
• Describe a protocol for outpatient management of alcohol withdrawal syndrome. 

Best Practices in Involuntary SUD Reform

• Discuss the current state of involuntary SUD treatment in Massachusetts.
• Analyze the potential risks of involuntary SUD treatment.
• Gain knowledge and resources to advocate for evidenced based, person-centered SUD treatment options.

Drug Testing in Care for Substance Use Disorders:  Does it Help or Hurt?

• Describe the chronology of drug testing and how it was integrated early on into standard care for substance use disorders.
• Explore the impact of drug testing on patients through their direct accounts.
• Compare the evidence for patient-centered harms and benefits of drug testing.
• Evaluate principles of harm reduction and low-threshold care and their compatibility with routine drug testing as currently recommended and required.