Opioid Agonist Therapy
Learning Objectives:
- Overview of pharmacology buprenorphine and methadone and rationale for use as opioid agonist therapy
- Safe prescribing considering drug-drug interactions, patient co-morbidities
- How to write a prescription with reference to updated PSI guidance
- An approach to missed doses and explanation of supervision/instalment requirements and rationale
Opioid Use Disorder – Diagnoses, Assessment and Prescribing Practice
Learning Objectives:
- Opioid use disorder diagnosis with reference to DSM-5
- Initial assessment and screening
- An approach to safe initiation of buprenorphine and methadone
- Considerations when switching between opioid agonist therapies
- Maintenance on opioid agonist therapy with reference to markers of stability e.g. urine drug screening, attendance pharmacy/clinic and presentation
Injectable Buprenorphine - Improving patient choice
Learning Objectives:
- Clinical indications and patient selection –Buprenorphine S/C (Buvidal)
- An approach to maintenance and dose adjustments
- Switching from alternative opioid agonist therapy (buprenorphine SL/Methadone to Buvidal)
Benzodiazepine Misuse/Dependence in the Community
Learning Objectives:
- Discuss the dangers of benzodiazepines in context of opioid use disorder reference to drug deaths + rx/ illicitly sourced.
- Detox Strategies: Apply evidence-based detox protocols using diazepam equivalence, interval dispensing, and structured tapering plans.
- Evaluate readiness for detox through motivational interviewing, drug diaries, and screening for medical or psychiatric contraindications.
- An approach to community detox, when is residential required.
Gabapentinoids - Use, Misuse & Management
Learning Objectives:
- Understand licensed uses and Irish prescribing trends
- Recognise misuse patterns and clinical red flags
- Review a common scenario in primary care
- Apply safe prescribing and deprescribing strategies
Addiction and Adverse Childhood Events
Learning Objectives:
- Risk factors, ACEs and Trauma
- Resilience
- Protective factors