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NJSAM Supports Innovative Educational Course
On May 31, nearly 100 New Jersey Primary Care and Pain Specialists attended a course presented by the New Jersey Academy of Family Physicians, Medical Society of New Jersey, New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in cooperation with the New Jersey Chapter ASAM, NJ State Opioid Treatment Authority, and NJ Department of Public Health. The program was supported by SAMHSA.
The day-long, 6.5 hour course covered topics which included "Understanding the Nature of Chronic Addiction and the Role of Opioids in Its Treatment" by Dr. Jeffrey Berman, FASAM, "Initiating Treatment: Assessing Risk, Educating the Patient, and Obtaining Informed Consent" by Dr. Stephen Wyatt and "Adapting Treatment in Response to Aberrant Medication Use Behaviors and the Risk of Drug Misuse or Diversion" by Dr. Louis Baxter, FASAM, and "Discontinuing Opioids for Treatment of Pain and Providing or Referring the Patient for other Treatment Modalities" by Dr. Laura McNicholas . All clinical presenters are current ASAM members.
The attendees also heard presentations from the State Attorney General’s Office on Regulatory Statutes and use of the NJ Prescription Monitoring Program.
The program featured two case management discussions from which the attendees were able to gain valuable information and scenarios to aid them in their practical everyday experiences.
This educational endeavor is an example of how ASAM and its chapters along with state and federal agencies can work together to provide the necessary information and guidance to the non-addiction practitioners that are needed and already provide addiction care to patients in primary care and pain practices.
The program, the first of its kind in New Jersey, was a great success. Other programs are planned for the future.
Dr. Baxter is the Immediate Past President of ASAM and Executive Medical Director of the Professional Assistance Program of New Jersey, Inc, located in Princeton, New Jersey and Medical Director, of the Division of Addiction Services for the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. He is also an Instructor in Medicine at the Thomas Jefferson School of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
