The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is launching a public education effort this fall on addictions and opioid use disorder (OUD). More information and resources for the public (are available in Spanish).. The APA also has free and/or low-cost education for clinicians and APA members on OUD, available in various formats.

On-Demand Education from the APA Learning Center & SMI Adviser

Anyone can access the APA Learning Center, which includes on-demand educational activities for CME credit, MOC requirements, and more. Among its many offerings on opioid use disorder are:

• Research Greatest Hits- Updates in Buprenorphine Treatment Practices in Opioid Use Disorders This hour-long webinar summarizes select highlights from the recent research literature.
• Implementation of Opioid Use Disorder Treatment In Rural Communities An hour-long webinar discussing recent development in policies, medication protocols and formularies, and technological tools that can aid medical providers in the rural communities.

In addition, SMI Adviser, a SAMHSA initiative implemented at the APA, offers free access to accredited education, vetted resources, and on-demand consultations so clinicians can make evidence-based treatment decisions. Among its free resources covering OUD are:

• A fact sheet covering The Basics on Substance Use and Serious Mental Illness: Opioids.
• An hour-long accredited webinar on Treating Co-Occurring OUD in Mental Health Settings.
• An hour-long accredited webinar on The Utilization of Medication for Opioid Use Disorder in an Outpatient Setting.

More online trainings are also available from the Providers Clinical Support System funded by SAMHSA and supported by a coalition headed by the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry.

Upcoming Live Webinars

APA Members only can join “The Opioid Settlement: How You Can Make A Difference,” a half-hour long live webinar offered with the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry on Friday, Sept. 29.

The next edition of the Looking Beyond Series: Mental Health Equity Fireside Chats on Nov. 28 will cover The Unequal Impact of the Opioid Epidemic in the African American Community: Insights for Psychiatrists. Looking Beyond is an APA lecture series that examines strategies and opportunities to improve the mental health of historically marginalized and minoritized communities.

Journals & Research

The most recent coverage of OUD in APA’s journals (available to members and subscribers) includes:

Psychiatric Services: Availability of Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Among Accountable Care Organizations: Evidence From a National Survey (The paper assess how accountable care organizations (ACOs) addressed ongoing opioid use disorder treatment needs over time.)

An APA resource document in the American Journal of Psychiatry: Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder in the General Hospital.

Psychiatric News

Read the latest updates for clinicians on OUD in Psychiatric News, APA’s news service:

• Xylazine Present in Increasing Number of Fentanyl Overdose Deaths, CDC Finds (Aug. 2023)
• ‘Please Don’t Do This to Us’: TV Show Illustrates Importance of Families in SUD Care of Youth (May 2023)
• CDC Issues New Opioid Prescribing Guideline (Jan. 2023)
• Most Overdoses Not Listed in Health Records (Jan. 2023)
• Naloxone Costs Rise for Uninsured Patients (Oct. 2022)