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 first responders who will benefit from an understanding and knowledge of the opioid public health crisis.

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

Addiction / Substance use disorders (SUDs) are a major public health concern in the United States. Nearly 20 million Americans 12 years of age or older have SUD, with 2.5 million Americans having a SUD involving either prescription opioids or heroin.

Community-Wide Effort Required
"No single organization or person can address the multitude of services needed to help people affected by mental health or substance use conditions… the best sources are the people who live, serve, and work in the community and the best results are often seen when they undertake such action together." — SAMHSA, One Voice, One Community

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.

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.

Accredited Continuing Education

As an approved Law Enforcement Training Board training provider (#47-1333720), Overdose Lifeline online training courses meet annual in-service training requirements for Indiana Law Enforcement officers and support personnel, specifically for Mental Illness, Addiction & Disabilities IC 5-2-1-9(g).

For first responders in other states, before beginning any of the Overdose Lifeline online courses we recommend that you verify that the course is of suitable subject matter and content for annual in-service training with your Department’s Certified Instructor. 

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. You should select "First Responder".

Upon successful completion of the course you will be issued a certificate which includes the information required to submit to Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board. The specific information required includes:

Overdose Lifeline’s Provider Number: #47-1333720. 

Continuing Education / Training Hours: 3.0

Course Number: FR-OPHC30

Please follow the Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board procedure below to ensure your training is properly reported, 

  1. Register for the classes at the provider’s website.
  2. Complete the class and all the requirements with a passing score.
  3. Print the certificate of completion or other documentation that indicates your successful completion of the class.
  4. Report the training by submitting a copy of the certificate and provide the LETB Certified Training Provider number to your department Training Coordinator.
  5. The Training Coordinator will report the training through Acadis as part of your annual in-service training using the LETB Certified Training Provider number for the organization that presented the online training. 

(IT IS THE DEPARTMENT’S RESPONSIBILITY TO REPORT THE TRAINING, NOT THE PROVIDER)

For first responders in other states, before beginning any of the Overdose Lifeline online courses we recommend that you verify that the course is of suitable subject matter and content for annual in-service training with your Department’s Certified Instructor. 

If you need assistance or have any questions, please contact training@overdoselifeline.org.

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."

We Recommend

You may want to consider these other courses