Makin’ It Happen Course: Understanding Overdose Risk and Medication Efficacy
This course explores the evidence-based treatments for substance use disorders and the role of FDA-approved medications in improving health outcomes. The course examines the heightened risk of overdose, particularly among justice-involved individuals, and shares why reentry from incarceration represents a critical window for intervention and overdose prevention.
Participants will gain foundational knowledge about opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment, including the differences between the three primary medications: methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. Participants will learn how these medications work and how they fit into a comprehensive, multimodal approach to treatment. Participants will also learn how addressing biological, psychological, and social factors contributes to long-term recovery and improved public health and safety outcomes.
Improve knowledge about the effectiveness of medications and treatments for OUD.
- Identify the risk of opioid overdose among individuals involved with the criminal justice system, particularly during reentry.
- Describe the components of substance use disorder treatment and the importance of individualized, long-term care plans.
- Explain the differences between FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder (methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone).
- Understand the biological, psychological, and social factors contributing to addiction and how effective treatment models address each domain.
- Evaluate the role of medication for addiction treatment (MAT) in reducing overdose deaths, improving treatment outcomes, and supporting public health and reentry success.
This course is open to all community members and professionals who are interested in learning more about substance use disorders and medication for opioid use disorder.
This course is sponsored by the Justice Community Overdose Innovation Network (JCOIN), an initiative funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
Addiction Policy Forum & the State of Makin’ It Happen. (2025). Makin’ It Happen Course: Understanding Overdose Risk and Medication Efficacy. Justice Community Overdose Innovation Network Coordination and Translation Center. https://www.jcoinctc.org/courses/makin-it-happen-course-understanding-overdose-risk-and-medication-efficacy/
