Events

About the webinar: Older adults are often overlooked in public health efforts to address the U.S. opioid epidemic. Yet, in 2018, approximately one quarter of older adults 65 years old and older were prescribed an opioid to treat pain, and were nearly 3 times more likely than younger populations between 20 and 24 years old. As we age, we are more likely to experience chronic pain at a greater severity as well as opioid-related adverse effects like confusion, falls, overdose and death.

Patient education is key to reducing opioid-related harm. Many healthcare professionals and those who directly interact with older adults have a unique opportunity to educate patients on opioid risks and naloxone benefits. The goal of this webinar is to prepare home health workers to implement and improve overall patient access to harm reduction strategies, specifically naloxone. This activity will highlight the opioid epidemic and the mechanism of action and risks of opioids, particularly in older adults, and will discuss common misconceptions related to naloxone including side effects when administered to someone not overdosing from opioids, legal ramifications of administering naloxone to a stranger, and insurance coverage when accessing naloxone at the pharmacy.

Presenters: