C.E. Credit. Harm Reduction: A Strategy to Improve Outcomes for Dental Patients with Substance-Use Disorders

Abstract

ABSTRACTBackground Harm reduction, practices that reduce the harms associated with substance abuse without necessarily reducing drug use or consumption, may be a successful strategy to decrease drug-overdose deaths.Types of Studies Reviewed Article reviewed studies and policies that focused on harm reduction, prescription opioid abuse, medical-dental integration, and factors contributing to the rise in opioid-related deaths.Results The purpose of this article is to call upon oral health practitioners to recognize substance use disorders and adopt harm reduction strategies to improve health outcomes for patients experiencing or at risk for the disease.Practical Implications The article proposes four harm reduction strategies (Screen, Intervene, Refer, Collaborate) for dental professionals to incorporate into their clinical practices to contribute toward drug-overdose prevention efforts in California.Continuing Education Credit Available The practice worksheet is available online in the supplemental material tab for this article. A CDA Continuing Education quiz is online for this article: https://www.cdapresents360.com/learn/catalog/view/20.

Keywords

• Harm reduction
• opioids
• opioid epidemic
• addiction
• substance use disorder
• medical-dental integration