Opioid misuse and addiction is a serious national crisis.

• Affects public health and social and economic welfare.
• Daily, more than 90 Americans die after overdosing on opioids.

Treatment of opioid dependence is a national priority.

Increasing the knowledge of and accessibility to effective medication-assisted treatments (MATs) for...

Faculty

• Melanie Dicks , PharmD

According to the Substance Use Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) nearly 80% of people with an opiate use disorder do not receive treatment. Because of this more healthcare providers need to screen for substance use disorders including opiate use disorder and provide or refer to appropriate treatment.

Faculty

• Julie B. Perry , DNP

According to the Substance Use Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) nearly 80% of people with an opiate use disorder do not receive treatment. More healthcare providers need to screen for substance use disorders including opiate use disorder and provide or refer to appropriate treatment.

Faculty

• Julie B. Perry , DNP
• Lisa Hernandez , LCSW, TCADC

Substance use disorder (OUD) is a treatable, chronic disease that often involves cycles of relapse and remission. Individuals who are under the influence of these substances often engage in risky and compulsive behaviors that result in harm to themselves or others. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) has been proven to successfully treat OUD through various mechanisms including,...

Faculty

• Melanie Dicks , PharmD

According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, addiction is a treatable, chronic medical disease involving complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics, the environment, and an individual’s life experiences. People with addiction use substances or engage in behaviors that become compulsive and often continue despite harmful...

Faculty

• Melanie Dicks , PharmD
• Julie B. Perry , DNP

Higher opioid prescribing puts patients at risk for addiction and overdose. According to the CDC (2016) since 1999 more than 165,000 people have died of an overdose related to prescription opioids and as many as 1 in 4 persons with chronic pain treated in primary care are prescribed opioids (approximately 50% of all prescribed opiates) and struggle with addiction. But chronic pain...

Faculty

• Julie B. Perry , DNP

Substance use disorder (SUD) is a treatable, chronic disease that often involves cycles of relapse and remission due to complex interactions in the brain, heredities, and an individual’s environment layered with life experiences. People with SUD often engage in risky and compulsive behaviors that result in harm to themselves or others. An individual’s substance use...

Faculty

• Melanie Dicks , PharmD
• Julie B. Perry , DNP
• Lisa Hernandez , LCSW, TCADC