Education & Events

Audience:
Substance abuse counselors, social workers, mental health counselors, nurses, recovery counselors and interested human services professionals.

Purpose:
Although prescription opioids were driving the increase in overdose deaths for many years, more recently, the large increase in overdose deaths has been due mainly to increases in heroin and illicitly manufactured fentanyl and other novel synthetic opioids. The newly emerging compounds fentanyl derivatives are now being used in combination with heroin, counterfeit pills, and cocaine. Learn more about the newest high potency synthetic opioids and other synthetic drugs that are being abused, their clinical effects and appropriate treatment. This program will also provide up-to-date information on other recent trends in drug use and drug overdose.

Objectives:
Upon completion of this workshop, participants will:
1. Become familiar with current drug trends and emerging drugs of abuse.
2. Describe the scope of the opioid abuse and overdose epidemic including the recent surge in overdose deaths related to heroin and illicitly manufactured fentanyl derivatives.
3. Identify the novel synthetic opioids becoming more prevalent in the U.S. and the region.
4. Explain how opioids work and the signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose.
5. Describe the use of and administration of various naloxone rescue kits and review Iowa’s Naloxone Access Law.
6. Describe the new ways THC is extracted from marijuana and gaining popularity among marijuana users.
7. Describe addiction and reward behavior
8. Salience: Who is making the decisions?
9. Discuss the foundation of how words make a difference

Faculty:
Linda Kalin, RN, BS, CSPI, is the Executive Director of the Iowa Poison Control Center. She has more than 25 years of experience in clinical toxicology and poison center activities. Linda began her career as an emergency room nurse and in 1989 became Iowa’s first Certified Specialist in Poison Information. She is an adjunct faculty member and preceptor for the University of Iowa and Drake’s College of Pharmacy and was awarded Preceptor of the Year from both schools. She is a frequent lecturer and speaker on topics involving drugs of abuse.

David Paulsrud, M.D., is the Medical Director at Jackson Recovery Centers. He has over 50 years of medical experience, and has been with Jackson Recovery Centers for 30 years. Prior to his work at Jackson Recovery, Dr. Paulsrud served as an orthopedic surgeon in Sioux City, and served as a doctor in the Army for 11 years, retiring with the rank of Lt. Colonel. Dr. Paulsrud has been honored with several local awards including, Sertoma Service of Mankind Award, AID Center Distinguished Community Leadership Award, and Morningside College Honorary Doctorate in Community Service. He also served on the Sioux City City Council from 1987-1992. Dr. Paulsrud received his medical degree from the University of Iowa.