POWER OF PUTNAM-TENNESSEE TECH COLLABORATIVE, Year Two
In 2019, Power of Putnam, Inc. (PoP), in collaboration with Tennessee Tech University (TTU), received an Opioid Resource Grant from the AmerisourceBergen Foundation to launch a community-wide awareness campaign to reduce diversion and insure safe disposal of medications being prescribed initially for use by animals.
We are honored to receive another Opioid Resource Grant from the AmerisourceBergen Foundation for 2021. This year, we will be offer the Controlled Substance Diversion in Veterinary Medicine: Policy, Strategy, & Ethics to veterinarians and veterinary technicians throughout the state of Tennessee. However, we are excited to announce that we are partnering with substance abuse coalitions in Tennessee’s eight neighboring states to offer the course for CE credit to their veterinarians and veterinary technicians as well. Moreover, we will also be offering the course to you, our Prevention Specialists in Tennessee, for CE credit!
PoP and TTU are using their unique resources to develop and launch the awareness campaign to address the diversion of opioids by pet owners. PoP is a coalition of community agencies and individuals who are concerned about the issue of substance abuse in Putnam County, TN. PoP seeks to unite the community in the implementation of research based environmental prevention strategies to prevent and lessen the progression of substance abuse. Founded in 2003 by citizens of Putnam County, PoP has engaged in countless substance abuse education and prevention strategies. In 2009, it became incorporated as a non-profit and obtained 501c3 status. TTU is a public, state university founded in 1915 with over 10,000 students, nearly 91% of whom are from Tennessee and, among Tennesseans, approximately 40% are from counties in the Upper-Cumberland area. Additionally, TTU has an active student organization focusing on drug addiction, including addiction to opioids and prescription pain medications, Addiction and Recovery Awareness @ TTU.
PoP has been on the forefront of local, regional and statewide efforts to reduce opiate misuse since 2012. Many of PoP’s strategies have been recognized as best practices. These include ongoing CME trainings for all prescribers on the fundamentals of addiction, full community coverage of permanent dropbox locations and availability of in home secured med boxes, development of a medical subcoalition to promote responsible prescribing practices, Narcan deployment in every law enforcement vehicle and an active recovery destigmatization project called “Your Life Matters” However, we feel there are populations in our area that are underserved by our existing programs. Therefore, we are extending our education and prevention initiatives, specifically to veterinarians, veterinary technicians, pet owners, pharmacies and others who prescribe and handle animal controlled substance prescriptions.
TTU is a public, state university founded in 1915 with over 10,000 students, nearly 91% of whom are from Tennessee and, among Tennesseans, approximately 40% are from counties in the Upper-Cumberland area. It has a number of programs that address substance use disorder and an active student organization focusing on drug addiction, including addiction to opioids and prescription pain medications, Addiction and Recovery Awareness @ TTU.
ABOUT THE COURSE
Controlled Substance Diversion in Veterinary Medicine: Policy, Strategy, & Ethics is a two hour continuing education course approved by the State of Tennessee Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners and, for Prevention Specialists, the Tennessee Certification Board. The course will provide an overview of Tennessee state policies for reporting and distribution of prescription medication for animals, what is known about human abuse of pet medications, and human prescription drug abuse, as well as training in the use of Narcan nasal spray used for reversing opioid overdose. After successfully completing the course, participants will be provided with two dosages of Narcan.
The course is completely online and free-of-charge. It consists of five modules, four brief quizzes, and an exit survey. The modules are as follows:
Module One: Video Lecture: Introduction & Overview of Abuse & Misuse of Controlled Substances of Prescribed to Animals (Mr. Bill Gibson)
Quiz #1
Module Two: Video Lecture: Overview of Tennessee Prescription Reporting Requirements & Ethical Challenges (Dr. Steven Seiler & Dr. Lachelle Norris)
Quiz #2
Module Three: Video Lecture: Understanding Drug Abuse & Addiction (Dr. Mark Loftis)
Quiz #3
Module Four: Introduction to the Use & Application of Naloxone for Overdose Reversal (Ms. Suzanne Angel)
Quiz #4
Module Five: Conclusion (Mr. Bill Gibson)
Exit Survey
The course was created by faculty at Tennessee Tech University and the Director of Power of Putnam.
REGISTERING FOR THE COURSE
To register for the Controlled Substance Diversion in Veterinary Medicine: Policy, Strategy, & Ethics (2-hour) continuing education course, please complete the following form:
https://forms.gle/FMJPBHuhEkkQDadHA
Within 48 hours of submitting the registration form, you will receive a confirmation email, and login information and a link to the course will be emailed shortly thereafter.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to email Dr. Steven Seiler (sseiler@tntech.edu) or Bill Gibson (bill@powerofputnam.org).