Course Description

The Opioid Public Health Crisis (OPHC) course will provide you with foundational knowledge on this nationwide health crisis and the solutions and actions to take to reduce the epidemic’s effect.

This course is for individuals, parents, healthcare professionals and groups and organizations who are working to prevent and reduce the effects of the opioid public health crisis. This is ideal for groups who serve individuals at risk for an opioid use disorder/addiction or overdose.

This includes, but not limited to: businesses, coalition and community members, correctional facilities, educators, faith groups, government, health care professionals, parents and caregivers, pharmacies, school nurses, senior living facilities, sober living communities, treatment and recovery centers, etc.

The training course provide the necessary information to understand and address the potential misuse of opioids, risk factors, and suggested prevention and reduction methods.

Course Reviewer

The course material has been reviewed by subject matter expert: Brad Ray, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Faculty, Staff and Reviewer Disclosure Statement

All faculty, staff and reviewers involved in the planning, review or presentation of continuing education activities provided by Purdue University College of Pharmacy are required to disclose to the audience any commercial financial affiliations with ineligible companies related to the content of the presentation or enduring material. All planning committee members, writers, staff and reviewers of Overdose Lifeline and Purdue University have no relationships to disclose.

What You Will Learn

  • Discuss the opioid public health crisis - historical, current conditions and trends.

  • Explain how the health crisis developed, the contributors and risk factors.

  • Identify the multi-faceted solutions model that states, and communities are applying to reduce the effects of the health crisis and the actions an individual / professional can take to improve the outcomes.

Course CE Credits and Certificate Program

In partnership with Purdue University College of Pharmacy, Office of Continuing Education, and funding from the Employers Forum of Indiana and the Amerisource Bergen Foundation, Overdose Lifeline has developed layperson and clinician CE courses and Certificate Program on Addiction / Substance Use Disorder with an Opioid Specialization.

The course and the certificate program are structured to support the educational needs of healthcare professionals, students, and the layperson. An individual may pursue individual course CE credits or complete the entire Certificate Program (20 credits). 

CE Accreditation Statement:

Purdue University College of Pharmacy designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 3.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Laypersons and all other healthcare providers will receive a Certificate of Participation with appropriate AMA credit designation.

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ (ACCME) is accepted for many clinical continuing education requirements and many societies and credentialing bodies accept the AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ as an equivalent as long as the topic is relevant to the applicant’s field or discipline.

Release Date:  12/06/2019

Expiration Date:  04/15/2025

CE Credit Course Requirements

  • 100% course completion

  • 80% (minimum) passing grade on the final exam

  • Complete the course ending survey

How to Receive CE Credit(s)

During course registration you will be prompted to select your CE Credit area. If you are not pursuing nursing, physician, or pharmarcy CE credits, then you should select "All Others: AMA PRA Category 1™ (ACCME)" which will service all other CE Credit types.

Your Certificate of CE credit(s) will be referenced on-screen at the end of the course and your certificate credentials will be delivered to the email address associated with this course's registration.

If you need assistance or have any questions, please contact [email protected].

Additional Course Notes

  • There are no prerequisites for this course. We recommend you consider “The Brain and the Disease of Addiction (BDA) — 2.0 CE Credits" online course ($30.00) for a working understanding of the chronic disease of addiction.

  • This course provides 3.0 CE Credits - delivered upon 100% course completion, achievement of 80% (minimum) passing grade on the final exam, and completing the course ending survey.

  • The course may be accessed from a computer, tablet or mobile device. Internet access is required as are speakers for audio.

    The following web browsers are supported: Desktop - Firefox, Safari, Chrome, and Edge. Note the course platform does not support Internet Explorer. Mobile - iOS Safari: 11 and up, Chrome, Samsung Internet.

  • The course will remain available in your account for six months - allowing you to complete the course at your own pace and return to the course later for review of key concepts.

What People Are Saying

Opioid Public Health Crisis Course


"This helped me understand what I can personally do to help my family and others and that the solutions work when all are used, and everyone works together."

"I learned a lot about what contributed to the Opioid Epidemic. I was unfamiliar with statistics that related to the overdose epidemic and they are staggering. I also appreciated learning how Naloxone works in the body and how it reverses effects of an overdose."

"As a public health educator, this course gave me a fantastic overall view of addiction, the opioid crisis (both historically and currently), and how to help."

"I now have a better understanding of efforts the community and I personally can take to help with the opioid and overdose epidemic."

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