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As a health care provider here are some things that can help when it comes to prescribing or dealing with opioids:

  • The HEALing Communities Study, in partnership with Berkshire Health Systems and the City of Pittsfield, created an Equity Toolkit to help create a decision-making process that encourages equitable thinking at it relates to the treatment of our community who struggle with substance use and/or are in treatment and recovery.  Following the 6 steps in this toolkit will help ensure equitable treatment for those who are struggling with OUD.
  • Walk your patients through the Prescription Safety Guide.
  • Use MassPat, or Massachusetts Prescription Awareness Tool, that helps support safe prescribing and dispensing of medications.
  • Be familiar with the signs of addiction
  • Recommend Naloxone to all patients known to use opioids and/or stimulants, whether they are using legally or not
  • Be aware of other chronic pain management techniques and when/how to prescribe opioids through a SCOPE of Pain online training
  • Become a MOUD (Medication for Opioid Use Disorder) Provider
  • Learn about different ways to intervene and talk to patients, like Motivational Interviewing to counsel a patient in a patient centered way the help to find a patient’s motivation for change
  • Another intervention technique is SBIRT (Screening Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment), it is a way to intervene a patient’s risky substance use and get them treatment
  • If you are looking for informational handouts or posters visit the Massachusetts Health Promotion Clearinghouse
  • Here is the BOAPC resource guide