Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today announced it is offering several new virtual training opportunities to help prevent unintentional drug overdoses. These online modules are offered at no cost and include continuing education credits for health care providers which may also meet various licensing requirements.
“It is imperative we do everything we can to address the ongoing overdose crisis and save lives,” said Acting Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen. “The Shapiro Administration is committed to continually developing new tools to help health care providers and public safety professionals address substance use disorder. These educational offerings provide health care and public safety professionals with practical guidance and information to ensure their work is evidence-based and addresses stigma as a barrier to treatment and recovery.”
The programs are tailored to several different audiences, and include offerings such as:
- The Pennsylvania Substance Use Navigation (PA-SUN) program’s newest additions to aid health care providers and care teams in Emergency Departments in increasing knowledge on topics such as harm reduction, buprenorphine initiation, linkage to care, and stigma.
- Strategies for improving maternal and infant health related to opioid use for health care providers who treat pregnant and post-partum women.
- The care team’s role in providing evidence-based care to people living with opioid use disorder.
- Evidence-based opioid prescribing in dentistry.
- Addiction and connection to treatment (ACT) resources for child welfare professionals.
The Shapiro Administration emphasizes a public health approach to engage individuals with substance use disorder, prevent overdose, reduce infectious disease transmission, and provide accessible treatment to Pennsylvanians.
These educational offerings are supported by funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In September 2023, the Department of Health was awarded an additional $26.5 million to further support and enhance its response to the overdose epidemic through 2028.
