“Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and the most inhuman because it often results in physical death."

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

ORN acknowledges February as Black History Month. This, and every month, we recognize the contributions and sacrifices of Black people in the American story.

Preventing and treating substance use disorders in Black Communities is critical as rates of overdose deaths in these communities are outpacing other populations. Read more about ORN's Black Communities Workgroup's efforts here.

Medical School Addiction Medicine Curriculum: Designed for Medical Students by Medical Students

New medical school curriculum developed by winners of the Coalition for Physician Education in Substance Use Disorders (COPE) Medical Student Curriculum Challenge is now available to download at no cost.

The ORN-funded challenge had medical students use their knowledge and creativity to design learning resources related to the development of the skills and attitudes critical to providing care to persons with substance use disorders. From 36 submissions, there were 8 winners and 4 honorable mentions. Twelve curriculum designs are now available and free of charge on COPE’s website for use by medical schools across the country. See the list and instructions on how to download here.

For additional evidence-based resources on the prevention, treatment and recovery of opioid use, stimulant use and all substance use disorders, submit a request at OpioidResponseNetwork.org.

If an opportunity listed below sparks your interest but you are not sure how to begin or would like more information, email orn@aaap.org. We are here to help you!
All ORN trainings are provided at no cost. 
To coordinate a training designed specifically to meet your needs, submit a request today at OpioidResponseNetwork.org. 

Social Work Chat Live: Spiro Spero - February 28, 2022

This ORN-funded activity coordinated by the Boston Medical Center is a viewing of a play titled "Spiro Spero." Participants will watch the streamed play from 11:30am - 12:30pm ET on YouTube and then attend a talk-back following. Spiro Spero is a one woman play written and performed by a psychiatric nurse practitioner who specializes in addiction. It explores the lives of five people impacted by substance use disorder and their experiences in treatment, in the community, and in the healthcare setting. A talk back will occur immediately following the stream. Learn more. 

Virtual Training: Stimulants 101 - March 10, 2022

This ORN-funded training from the Boston Medical Center is designed to provide an overview of stimulant use disorders for all healthcare staff including providers, nurses, counselors and other non-clinical staff. The training reviews stigma, identifying stimulant overdose, managing acute stimulant intoxication, de-escalation techniques, and evidence-based treatment for people who use stimulants. Learn more. 

Virtual Training: Recovery Ambassador Training - March 22-24, 2022

This ORN-funded, Faces & Voices of Recovery, Recovery Ambassador Program is a free training that prepares individuals to advance public understanding and appropriate responses to addiction. The training program consists of Our Stories Have Power, Recovery Messaging, the Science of Addiction & Recovery and the Recovery Ambassador curriculum. Course material includes instruction in language and stigma, recruiting volunteers, building messages, organizing community action, engaging policymakers, raising money and effective advocacy. Learn more.

Reminder: On Demand Webinars Presented by Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses 

New ORN-funded webinars from the American Psychiatric Nurses Association have been posted and are available to all at no cost. These include:

·     What’s in Grandma’s Medicine Cabinet? – Understanding Substance Use Disorders in Older Adults Explore how age-related physiological and social changes present unique challenges for the identification and treatment of this disorder.

·     Substance-Exposed Pregnancies: What to Know As They Grow Discover how substance use during pregnancy impacts maternal/fetal development and increases the neurological vulnerabilities of the neonate.

A Primer on Stimulant Use Disorder: A Growing Concern 

Examine neuroscience changes as a result of a substance use disorder, along with the signs and symptoms that often present with the diagnosis as well as potential treatment options.

Share our mission in your community!

Opioids, stimulants and other substances have created an unprecedented health crisis so the Opioid Response Network created an unprecedented response. As communities mobilize to address local need, we are here to enhance their efforts. Help us spread the word! Post the video below to your network's social channels. Encourage your network to tell us what they need via the simple request form at OpioidResponseNetwork.org.

orn@aaap.org  - 401-270-5900  -  OpioidResponseNetwork.org