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Overdose prevention, harm reduction, & treatment

Join the Washington Poison Center as we discuss overdose. Through presentations from our own staff and from external experts, we’ll explore unintentional and intentional factors that can lead to overdose, how to respond to different overdose situations, how to prevent and reduce harm from overdose, and how to access resources and treatment in the state of Washington. Our goal is to open dialogue, de-stigmatize, and ensure everyone is aware of the help available in our communities.

All sessions are free to attend. Sessions will take place on Zoom or on social media. See below for more details and to register.

MONDAY, AUGUST 23


What is ‘Overdose’? A Poison Center Perspective
10:30am on Facebook and YouTube
Join us as we kick off the series! In this session, we’ll lay the groundwork for the rest of the series, providing you with an overview of how we define “overdose” at the Washington Poison Center. We’ll cover the primary reasons for overdose, how we see reasons differ between age groups, and how these reasons have changed (or not) over the years.
Speakers: Scott Phillips, MD FACP FACMT FAACT & Gordon Morrow, PharmD, CSPI

How to Think and Talk about Substance Use Disorders
1:00 – 2:00pm on Zoom – registration required here
Understand how stigma about Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) can influence patient engagement, assessment and treatment. Learn about the different theories on the etiology of SUDs to gain a broader understanding of this illness.
Speaker: Ron Jackson, MSW, LICSW

TUESDAY, AUGUST 24


Safe Medicine Storage & Disposal
11:00am on Facebook and YouTube
Learn about the importance of safe medicine storage and disposal to help keep kids and teens safe from medicine misuse, unintentional poisoning, and suicide.
Speaker: Isabell Sakamoto, MS, CHES®

Toxico-Economics
1:30 – 2:30pm on Zoom – registration required here
In the world of substance use, illicit drugs and medications are tied closely to the flow of money.  This presentation will look at the cost of street medications, and the flow of money in relation to substance use and drug trafficking.
Speaker: Scott Phillips, MD FACP FACMT FAACT

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25


Opioids & Stimulants in Washington State
10:00 – 11:00am on Zoom – registration required here
Opioid and stimulant overdose deaths are increasing in WA State. Learn more about recent trends, why people use these drugs, and what communities can do to respond.
Speaker: Alison Newman, MPH

Take-home Naloxone for Opiate Overdose
12:30pm on Facebook and YouTube
Audience members will learn how to:
– Recognize an opioid overdose
– Understand what Naloxone is and how it works
– Respond to opioid overdose and administer Naloxone
– Get a take-home Naloxone kit in WA state
Speaker: Wenye Dang, PharmD

THURSDAY, AUGUST 26


Opioids & Opiates: A Discussion of WA Poison Center Trends & Perspectives
2:15 – 3:45pm on Zoom – registration required here
Discussion around opioids and opiates frequently focuses on substance use disorders, overdose deaths, and illicit markets. There is much more to the picture with these substances, however. At the Washington Poison Center, we help patients with opioid exposures related to substance use, intentional overdoses, medication errors, pediatric accidents, and more. Join us as we explore the basics of opioids and opiates with one of our call center pharmacists. We will cover the opioids we frequently hear about + common reasons for calling us, what we are most concerned about, and our top tips for preventing and reducing harm from opioid use.
Speakers: Jared O'Connor, MPH, MS & Kelly White, PharmD, CSPI

MONDAY, AUGUST 30


Trends in Adolescent Exposures: Intentional Use, Misuse, & Overdose
12:00pm on Facebook and YouTube
The Washington Poison Center has tracked adolescent intentional exposures for over a decade. Throughout the years, we’ve seen increases in several concerning areas, such as with intentional self-harm & substance use. Now, a year and a half into the COVID-19 pandemic, there are additional concerns about the pandemic’s impacts on adolescent mental health. Join the poison center for a discussion of these trends, the facts behind adolescent substance use, and key strategies to prevent and reduce harm among the youth in your lives.
Speakers: Stephanie Garland, PharmD, CSPI & Trent Eason, PharmD, CSPI

An Exploration of Withdrawal
2:30 – 4:00pm on Zoom – registration required here
What happens when a drug is stopped? Explore withdrawal syndromes, withdrawal timelines and severity, withdrawal treatment options, and the complex relationship between antidotes and withdrawal.
Speakers: Marlo Murray, PharmD, CSPI & Paul Cole, PharmD, CSPI

TUESDAY, AUGUST 31


Opioids and Drug User Health & Safety
9:30-10:30am on Facebook and YouTube
Join the Hepatitis Education Project (HEP) and the Washington Department of Health’s Drug User Health Program (DOH) for a livestream on overdose prevention and harm reduction.

HEP will provide:
– An overview of their Syringe Service Program and how they engage their clients and communities in overdose prevention, naloxone distribution, and medical care
– Brief demonstrations on how to use nasal and injectable naloxone

DOH will discuss:
– Fentanyl 101
– The laws and regulations in Washington around naloxone and overdose response, including the Statewide Standing Order to Dispense Naloxone and the state’s Good Samaritan Overdose Law
– Information about DOH’s Naloxone Distribution Program and how organizations can apply to become a distribution partner
Speakers: Mitch Mitchell, Kimberly Taber, & Sean Hemmerle

Dependence, Opioid User Disorder, & Medications for OUD
11:00am – 12:30pm on Zoom – registration required here
This session will cover how opioids work in the brain and how the body develops dependence. We’ll discuss the characteristics of opioid use disorder, and the ins and outs of medications used for opioid use disorder.
Speaker: Nicole Rodin, PharmD, MBA

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1


Accidental Overdose in Older Adults
11:00am – 12:00pm on Zoom – registration required here
Older adults face unique challenges when it comes to medications, and those challenges increase as medication lists grow. Overdose, specifically accidental overdose, is a particularly concerning issue for our ageing population. This session will discuss medication challenges we face as we age, ways to prevent or reduce the risk of accidental overdose in older adults, and strategies to reduce harm if overdose occurs.
Speaker: Abby Winter, PharmD, MPA, BCACP


Suicide & Self-Harm in Adolescents: A Discussion with Emergency Services
1:00 – 2:00pm on Zoom – registration required here
Join a Washington Poison Center call center pharmacist and a mental health therapist at Seattle Children’s Hospital for a discussion and Q&A on adolescent intentional self-harm and suspected suicide.  Learn what happens when poison center and Emergency Department services are utilized for an adolescent intentional case. Explore common cases and the trends these emergency healthcare providers are witnessing, including recent impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speakers: Kelly Kerby, MA, LMHC, SUDP & Curtis Elko, PharmD, CSPI

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2


Risk & Protective Factors for Substance Use
1:00 – 2:00pm on Zoom – registration required here
Speaker: Kevin Haggerty, MSW, PhD

Date and Time: 
August 23, 2021 - 12:00am to September 3, 2021 - 11:59pm
Location: 
Webinar