Seminar - 90 Minutes

Addressing the US Opioid Crisis Through Training of Dental Students and Dentists

Presenter(s)

• 

  Eli Schwarz, DDS, MPH, PhD

  Professor & Chair
  Oregon Health & Science University
• RK

  Richie Kohli, BDS, MS

  Associate Professor
  Oregon Health & Science University
• 

  Bruce Austin, DMD

  State Dental Director
  Oregon Health Authority

With 72,000 opioid related deaths in 2017, this substance use disorder has reached epidemic proportions. The dental profession has been identified as one of the top prescribers of opioid medications and is both part of the problem and of the solution. Oregon is a small state which is ranked among the highest rates of opioid related deaths. The state has also developed a strong culture of integration between physical, behavioral and oral health initiatives. The objectives of this seminar are to highlight the extent of the problem of opioid use disorder and focus on the solutions that we can contribute. A collaboration between the Oregon Health Authority and the School of Dentistry will target the prescribing behaviors of dentists through changes in the dental curriculum, education of residents and faculty, and finally continuing education initiatives to preceptors and community-based dentists, including clinical guidelines and mandatory PDMP use.

 

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the extent of the opioid crisis in the US on the basis of the latest data.
• Highlight the role of the dental profession in this crisis as one of the prescribing professional groups.
• Demonstrate how a State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis Grant has facilitated a close collaboration between Oregon Health Authority and the OHSU School of Dentistry to action.
• Describe the training initiative undertaken at the Oregon Health & Science University to change the dental curriculum, train students, faculty, residents and community dentists on appropriate opioid prescribing behaviors.