Institute for Addiction Education Pflugerville, Texas, United States
Session Description: This workshop explores the health, wellness, and quality of life of opiate-dependent individuals who are receiving medication for opioid use disorder. The foundation of this workshop is based on the results of a 12 year longitudinal study assessing improvement of quality of life and the influence of demographic, psychosocial, drug and health-related variables on individuals' QoL. Ultimately, the study has revealed that individuals receiving medication for opioid use disorder need psychosocial supports throughout the entirety of their treatment, regardless of the length of the episode. Consequently, a more holistic approach to opioid use disorder which goes beyond pharmaceutical interventions is needed. This workshop explores integration of pharmaceutical and psychosocial interventions and the complexity of providing the "right" treatments and the "right" times for the best outcomes.
Learning Objectives:
After this activity participants should be able to
Upon completion, participants will be able to describe and discuss the numerous high-quality peer-reviewed studies that have demonstrated that medications alone are equally effective as medication combined with counseling.
Upon completion, participants will be able to describe, discuss and differentiate OUD populations that benefit from no treatment, medications alone, and medications with counseling.
Upon completion, participant will be able to identify treatment strategies that result in improved subjective and objective quality of life.