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

• BOAPC, 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 SUD.
• 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