Substance Abuse and Chemical Dependency Education for TN Prescribers

Substance Abuse and Chemical Dependency Education for TN Prescribers is organized by Academy of Dental Learning and OSHA Training, LLC..

Published: September 2018
Updated: November 2021
Expires: December 2024

Description:
According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, “From 2000 to 2015 more than half a million people died from drug overdoses. 91 Americans die every day from opioid overdose. We now know that overdoses from prescription opioids are a driving factor in the 15-year increase in opioid overdose deaths. Since 1999, the number of prescription opioids sold in the U.S. nearly quadrupled, yet there has not been an overall change in the amount of pain that Americans report. Deaths from prescription opioids—drugs like oxycodone, hydrocodone, and methadone—have more than quadrupled since 1999.”

Though abuse of readily available drugs such as nicotine and alcohol remains constant, in recent years the misuse of prescription medications, particularly pain relief and cold medications such as Vicodin, Oxycontin, and Dextromethorphan, is on the rise. The most common substance-abusing patients seen in a dental practice involve the use of alcohol, tobacco, sedatives/hypnotics, barbiturates, and narcotics. Although the scope of dental practice does not include diagnosis or treatment of chemical dependency, the dental team must be aware of the signs and symptoms of substance abuse and addiction. As health professionals, we can provide education, early intervention, and provide motivation for the patient to seek help before abuse becomes a dependency.

The dental professional’s clinical role includes:

• Assistance in recognition of a substance abuse problem.
• Relapse prevention for patients recovering from chemical dependency.
• Treatment modifications to ensure that each patient receives safe and effective dental care.

This course will also assist you in understanding:

• Prevalence and incidence of substance abuse.
• Pathophysiological and psychological features of substance abusers.
• Clinical manifestations of substance abuse.
• Treatment options available for substance abuse.
• Dental treatment modifications for patients who are abusing or recovering from substance abuse.
• Protocols if a member of the oral health team is impaired.

This course is informational only and provides an overview of Substance Abuse and Chemical Dependency. This course is not intended to provide legal advice or set a standard for dental care. The oral health team must comply with state and federal laws, as well as ethical standards within their respective professional organizations.

Educational Objectives:

• Identify epidemiological factors related to chemical dependency.
• Describe signs that may indicate that a patient is chemically dependent.
• List components of chemical dependency treatment.
• Discuss modifications in dental treatment that may be necessary when treating a patient who is chemically dependent or recovering from chemical dependency.
• Describe how drugs and alcohol may interact with dental therapeutic agents.
• State the nine steps for prescribing controlled substances.