The Opioid Epidemic

As an Athletic Trainer, you encounter clients who are utilizing opioids to manage pain from injury and rehabilitation. The increased prescription of opioid medications has led to widespread misuse of both prescription and non-prescription opioids that are highly addictive. Explore opioid prevalence and abuse among teen, college and professional athletics. Understand the health care crisis that the US Department of Health and Human Services has declared a “public health emergency”.

Learning Objectives

• Distinguish the terms: opioid tolerance, dependence and addition as related to their use for pain management.
• Understand opioid receptor sites, mechanisms of action and pharmacology of opioids.
• Participate in an informed discussion of medical and social solutions to the opioid epidemic.
• Identify characteristics and variables that are correlated with opioid misuse among athletes.
• Synthesize strategies to assess and intervene in opioid misuse, tolerance and addiction.

Exam & Video Info

• Exam: 10 true/false statements
• Video: View online with exam purchase.

Continuing Education Info

• Accepted by the Board of Certification, Inc. (BOC) and may be used towards the continuing education (CE) requirement for Athletic Trainers (ATC). View more here.
• Accepted by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and may be used towards the continuing education credit (CEC) requirement for ACSM professionals. View more here.
• Level of difficulty: 4/Mastery
• Learning Domains: 1, 2

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