A 360-Degree Approach to Opioid Overdose Education, Prevention, & Management for Sports Medicine Professionals

Abstract:
The use and abuse of opioids within the United States is at crisis levels and has been declared a public health emergency by the U.S. Department on Health and Human Services in 2017. 130 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose and 11.4 million people misuse prescription opioids per year. The population of patients that athletic trainers work with daily is frequently prescribed opioids for pain management and are therefore an at risk population for opioid overdose. Naloxone can reverse the life-threatening respiratory depression associated with the opioid overdose, and athletic trainers, physician, EMS personnel, allied health professionals, and others must be knowledgeable in the most current recommendations and evidence regarding the prevention, recognition, and management of a patient in opioid overdose with naloxone, and must be able to bridge the gap between current evidence and knowledge and clinical competency and/or performance for professionals with regards to prevention, recognition, management, and recovery from opioid addiction.

Objectives:

  • Participants will be able to explain how a prehospital interprofessional healthcare team works collaboratively to improve patient outcomes., 
  • Participants will be able to identify the current NATA and EMS recommendations regarding the prehospital management of the opioid overdose patient., 
  • Participants will be able to identify opioids and drugs that increase overdose risk., 
  • Participants will be able to identify and discuss myths and facts relative to opioids, overdoses, and overdose management., 
  • Participants will be able to examine and discuss the current scientific evidence related to the opioid epidemic specifically focusing on (1) epidemiology; (2) at risk populations; (3) overdose prevention strategies; and (4) naloxone distribution programs., 
  • Participants will be able to define, discuss, and differentiate the indications, contraindications, and mechanism of action of naloxone., 
  • Participants will be able to describe and demonstrate skills needed for (1) effective management of airway, breathing, and circulation in the opioid overdose patient; and (2) the administration of naloxone., 
  • Participants will be able to demonstrate the proper sequence and implementation of critical decision-making skills and the current evidence., 
  • Participants will be able to understand state legislation pertaining to prevention strategies & naloxone.


Level:
Advanced

Domains:
Domain 1: Risk Reduction Wellness and Health Literacy
Domain 2: Assessment Evaluation and Diagnosis
Domain 4: Therapeutic Intervention
Domain 5: Health Care Administration and Professional Responsibility

CEUs: 1.0 Category A

Keywords: addiction, life saving medication, overdose, mental health, opioid, drug use, naloxone

Darryl Conway, MA, LAT, ATC

Darryl  Conway  serves  as  the  Senior  Associate  Athletic  Director  &  Chief  Health  &  Welfare  Officer for University of Michigan Athletics, owner of Conway Ventures, LLC, and is Co‐Founder / Partner of Sports Medicine Emergency Management, LLC (SMEM). Darryl holds a Masters’ Degree from Adelphi University (’95) in Sports Medicine and Sports Management and a Bachelors’ Degree from the University of Delaware (’93) in Physical Education Studies and Athletic Training. In addition to being a certified member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA), Darryl has worked with various SWAT Teams as their Tactical Medic and Athletic Trainer, and as a volunteer EMT, and has been an American Red Cross first aid, CPR, and AED instructor for 30 years. Darryl serves as the Chair of the NATA’s Ethnic Diversity Advisory Committee (EDAC), is a member of the NATA’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Advocacy (DEIA) Task Force, Michigan Athletic Trainers’ Society (MATS) Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee, Michigan Athletic Trainers’ Society (MATS) AT Cares Committee,  NATA  Research  &  Education  Foundation  (REF)  Development  Task  Force,  &  the  NATA’s  Educationalist  Community Diversity Recruitment & Retention Work Group. Darryl served as Co‐Chair of the NCAA’s Diverse Student‐Athlete Mental Health & Well‐Being Task Force, is a member of the State of Michigan Board of Athletic Trainers, the State of Michigan Board of Athletic Trainers Disciplinary Sub‐Committee & Rules Sub‐Committee, the Board of Certification of Athletic Trainers (BOC) Reinstatement Committee, and previously served on the NATA Committee on Professional Ethics (COPE). Darryl also serves as an Instructor Trainer for American Red Cross CPR / AED / First Aid Instructor Courses, an Associate Expert with The Rehberg‐Konin Group, an Instructor & Ambassador with Stop the Bleed, and has worked as an Athletic Trainer at the Winter X Games and various Red Bull extreme events. Darryl was also a member of the Spine Injury in  Sports  Group  (SISG),  is  a  member  of  the  Xenith  Scientific  Advisory  Committee,  and  a  consultant  for  RG  Medical  Diagnostics. Darryl was named as a Distinguished Athletic Trainer by the Michigan Athletic Trainers’ Society (MATS) in 2022,  a  Most  Distinguished  Athletic  Trainer  by  the  National  Athletic  Trainers’  Association  (NATA)  in  2019  and  was  recognized by the College Athletic Trainers’ Society (CATS) in 2018 with the prestigious Quality of Life Award.

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