Training

Virtual meeting

Via Zoom

Description

Geared towards staff at Casa Esperanza, this training will examine treatment approaches and medication therapy for different types of substance use disorders, including opioids, alcohol, stimulants, and nicotine. The training will identify concerning patterns of behavior for a person on medications for addiction treatment and strategies for how the team can adjust the treatment plan to best support patients in their recovery.

Please note that camera use is required in order to be eligible for continuing education credits, meaning you must have your camera turned on and we must be able to see you during the training. Continuing education credits are pending approval.

Intended audience

Staff and affiliates of Casa Esperanza, Inc. 

Speakers

Justin Alves, RN, MSN, ACRN, CARN, CNE

Justin is a Clinical Nurse Educator for Boston Medical Center's OBAT TTA team, with specific expertise in infectious disease and their co-occurrence with substance use disorders, community outreach, and harm reduction. He serves as an expert on OBAT TTA's SUD Care Continuum ECHO team and sits on the item writing committee for the Addictions Nursing Certification Board. Justin has dedicated his career to caring for patients living with HIV/AIDS and suffering from substance use disorders across the continuum of care. He is an AIDS Certified Registered Nurse, a Certified Addictions Registered Nurse, and a member of the Gamma Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau. Justin received his BSN from Northeastern University in 2013 and received his MSN, with a focus in nursing education, from the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth in 2020.

Vanessa Loukas, MSN, FNP-C, CARN-AP

Vanessa is a Clinical Nurse Educator for Boston Medical Center's OBAT Technical Assistance Team with clinical interest and expertise in management of substance use disorders in primary care, chronic mental illness, and infectious diseases. She is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner receiving her Masters of Science in Nursing at Simmons College, and board certified in Advance Practice Addictions nursing through the Addictions Nursing Certification Board (CARN-AP). Prior to joining the OBAT TTA team, she was the Administrative Director of the Addiction Services Department at East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, formerly the South End Community Health Center, developing their multidisciplinary nursing led addiction program and where she practiced as a nurse practitioner managing a high risk patient panel. Vanessa also worked as a registered nurse in acute treatment services and medical stabilization programs.

Objectives

Participants will be able to: 

• Distinguish between medications used to treat opioid use disorder, alcohol use disorder, and nicotine use disorder. 
• Evaluate the role of medications in a person's recovery plan. 
• Articulate concerns and assurance regarding a person's treatment plan with other members of the care team. 
• Identify concerning patterns of behavior for a person on medications for addiction treatment. 

Sponsored by

Boston Medical Center Grayken Center for Addiction, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (DPH/BSAS).