Harm Reduction Basics for Healthcare Professionals

Objectives

• Describe the fundamentals of harm reduction
• Understand the historical and modern-day context surrounding drug use in the United States
• Compare the three waves of the opioid crisis
• Understand the benefits of stigma-reduction efforts
• Consider the impact of word choice in the healthcare setting
• Explore ways to connect with Harm Reduction organizations to the benefit of patients
• Explore various misconceptions surrounding Harm Reduction
• Recall the major goals of harm reduction
• Understand why utilizing harm reduction in the inpatient setting is an impactful tool for maximizing patient outcomes and minimizing readmission rates
• Identify creative ways to find middle ground between patient and care team goals to maximize patient outcomes
• Explore various options for using harm reduction techniques in the inpatient context
• Consider the potential impact on patient outcomes that the outpatient setting enjoys
• Understand the role of buprenorphine and creative ways to offer it
• Understand the role of naloxone and creative ways to offer it
• Consider brief motivational interviewing and syringe access in the outpatient context

Speaker(s)/Author(s)

Claire Zagorski, MS, LP, MS, LP Program Coordinator, UT College of Pharmacy