Medical Education

Provider and Patient Resources

Prescription painkillers (opioids) are the leading cause of injury death in the U.S., and now the most common class of drug involved in overdose deaths in Oklahoma. The good news is that Oklahoma’s Medical Provider community is a major contributor to the recent decline in overdose deaths. This is due, in part, to increased use of proper prescribing guidelines, policy changes and reduction in scripts written.

In 2018, there were 308 opioid-related overdose deaths in Oklahoma. Through the combined efforts of health industry leaders, law enforcement and prevention, advocates we have reduced Oklahoma’s rate of overdose involving opioids to the national average of 7.8 deaths per 100,000 persons.

Source: DrugAbuse.gov

A consortium of State and Tribal partners, including The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) and Southern Plains Tribal Health Board (SPTHB) have significantly increased awareness and access to resources in our Oklahoma communities. This includes resources for providers to practice responsible opioid prescribing and become waivered to offer Medication Assisted Treatment.

TSO is doing its part to also increase access to Medical Education for Providers and Patients. We have compiled a variety of resource links for you to explore below.

Oklahoma CME Resources

Project Echo allows providers to get expert addiction specialist knowledge in a virtual learning environment network with OSU Center for Health Sciences addiction medicine ECHO team. The curriculum is designed to expand expertise in treating substance use disorders in the primary care setting.

But why is greater access to treatment needed?

In 2018, approximately 1 in 13 Oklahoma adults, about 277,000, needed but were not receiving treatment for substance use. Oklahoma ranks 20th in the nation for the greatest unmet substance treatment need at 7.7%.

MAT Waiver Training

New to MAT? Visit our Treatment page, which has a basic rundown about MAT.

Why Become Waivered?

We recommend that all levels of providers strive to get their DEA “X waiver” to offer MAT services, because pathways to opioid addiction often begin with legitimate medical conditions that require pain management. These are everyday patients who, through injury, now struggle with opioid addiction. These are your neighbors, colleagues, family members and friends. They deserve the opportunity to establish their new normal as a person living in Recovery with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD).

To get you started down the right path, click the link below below based on the credential that best fits you.

Opioid Overdose

How Opioid Overdose Occurs

There are ways to prevent opioid overdose, which saves lives. It should be noted that overdose can have long lasting physical effects after the event itself. That is why preventing it from happening in the first place is a priority.

Let’s take a look at what happens to the body during an opioid overdose.

What is Naloxone?

The risk of fatal overdose can occur with prescribed opioids as well as misused/abused opioids and heroin/fentanyl. If you take opioids for pain, ask your Medical Provider to co-prescribe a naloxone-containing medication like Narcan®. If you are a Medical Provider, discuss the risks for overdose with your patients prior to prescribing opioids for pain.

Naloxone Myths and Facts

An opioid overdose is not a blissful stroll through the park. It is deadly, and many times these overdoses are accidental.

Typically, withdrawal wakes the victim, which can include vomiting, disorientation, and other undesirable side effects.

Before intervention or long-term treatment can begin for an overdosed victim, life-saving measures must be undertaken. A dead victim has no chance for recovery.