Events

VIRTUAL: Stimulants 101

Description

This one-hour training is intended to provide an overview of stimulant use disorders. Topics include stigma, pharmacology, and physiology of methamphetamines and cocaine, identifying stimulant overdose (overamping), managing acute stimulant intoxication, de-escalation techniques, and evidence-based treatment for people with stimulant use disorders.

Intended audience

Medical providers, nurses, social workers, Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors (LADC), Certified Alcohol/Drug Counselors (CADC), Community Health Workers (CHW), recovery coaches, counselors, Licensed Mental health Counselors (LMHC), and members of the community.

Speakers

Justin Alves, MSN, FNP-BC, ACRN, CARN, CNE (he/him)

Justin is a clinical nurse educator with Boston Medical Center's Grayken Center for Addiction Training and Technical Assistance, where he contributes to peer-reviewed publications, evidence-based clinical guidelines, development and delivery of continuing education programs, and other resources for providers supporting patients with substance use disorders. Justin is also a nurse practitioner at Boston Medical Center and the nursing director of two housing first programs operated by the Justice Resource Institute, Inc. He has expertise in infectious diseases and their co-occurrence with substance use disorders, community outreach, and harm reduction. Justin's work in HIV/AIDS includes being president of the Boston Chapter of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, consulting for the New England AIDS Education Training Center, and other positions. He currently sits on the stimulant work group for the Opioid Response Network (ORN), the advisory board of the New England Addiction Technology Transfer Center, and the item writing committee for the Addictions Nursing Certification Board (ANCB). Justin received his Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Northeastern University in 2013, his Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth in 2020, and his Post-Master's Family Nurse Practitioner certificate from the University of Massachusetts-Boston in 2023. He also holds certification as a Certified Addiction Registered Nurse (CARN) through the Addictions Nursing Certification Board (ANCB), certification as an AIDS Certified Registered Nurse (ACRN) through the HIV/AIDS Nursing Certification Board (HANCB), and is a certified nurse educator (CNE) through the National League of Nursing.

Objectives

  1. Understand the role of psychostimulants in the overdose epidemic and recognize population disparities.
  2. Recognize signs of stimulant intoxication, overdose (overamping), and withdrawal.
  3. Identify evidence-based interventions for acute stimulant intoxication and post-acute care for stimulant use disorder.
  4. Describe the basic principles of de-escalation to promote safety for patients with active stimulant use and their caregivers. 
  5. Identify health risks associated with stimulant use and how to apply harm reduction interventions.

Sponsored by

Boston Medical Center Grayken Center for Addiction TTA, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (DPH/BSAS), Opioid Response Network (ORN)

Funding for this initiative was made possible (in part) by grant no. 1H79TI083343 from SAMHSA. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Accreditation information

REQUIREMENTS for credit

  1. Register for training.
  2. Arrive/log into the training no more than 10 minutes after designated start time for program.
  3. Identify yourself by typing your full name into the chat and ensuring your zoom name matches that used to register for training (or you cannot be marked on attendance).
  4. Be present through the end of the activity (i.e. until the designated end time of training).
  5. Complete evaluation within 2 weeks of program completion.
Led By
Boston Medical Center, Grayken Center for Addiction
Event Type
Online