This program will be presented by Dr. Timothy Atkinson, a Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner in Pain Management and federal employee working in pain and opioid policy development and dissemination. Dr. Atkinson specializes in complex and high-risk pain medication management.
VIRTUAL OPTION AVAILABLE via Zoom
IN-PERSON EVENT AT UAB HUNTSVILLE
Register: https://cmetracker.net/USAL/Publisher?page=pubOpen#/course
Substance use disorders (SUDs) represent a significant and growing public health challenge that affects individuals, families, and healthcare systems across all practice settings. This course provides healthcare professionals with a comprehensive overview of the prevention, identification, assessment, and treatment of substance use disorders, including opioid, alcohol, and other commonly misused substances. Learners will develop a deeper understanding of the diagnostic criteria for SUDs and learn to distinguish between substance use, misuse, physical dependence, tolerance, withdrawal, and addiction. The course emphasizes the recognition of clinical signs and symptoms, the application of validated screening and assessment tools, and the evaluation of evidence-based pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatment strategies. Special focus will be placed on current clinical guidelines, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and best practices for managing opioid and alcohol use disorders. Participants will also explore the impact of co-occurring psychiatric and medical conditions on treatment outcomes, enabling them to provide patient-centered, evidence-based care that improves identification, intervention, and long-term recovery for individuals affected by substance use disorders.
