Free Online Addiction Medicine Diploma

The Online Addiction Medicine Diploma is a free online certificate course targeted at health care professionals interested in learning more about providing care to patients with alcohol, tobacco, and opioid substance use disorders. The course is also open for anyone wishing to improve their knowledge of substance use and addiction. This program was supported by an investment by the Province of British Columbia and the Ministry of Health.

Course Objectives: 

By participating in this comprehensive online program, learners will build competence in substance use care and addiction medicine by:

• Incorporating screening, diagnosis, and brief intervention and referral to treatment for substance use disorders in clinical practice
• Selecting the appropriate pharmacological and psychosocial treatment interventions based on the best evidence as well as individual patient needs, circumstances, and preferences
• Providing safe and effective treatment to patients and their families throughout the induction, maintenance, and/or discontinuation process across the continuum of care for substance use disorders
• Setting treatment goals, monitoring and evaluating progress, and providing patient-centered support across the continuum of care for substance use disorders
• Appreciating the complexity of substance use disorders, diversity of care, and providing informed referrals to evidence-based support services
• Promoting recovery, safety, wellness, and harm reduction to improve patient care and support for those with substance use disorders
• Implementing strategies for safer prescribing practices for medications with abuse/diversion potential (i.e. opioids for analgesia, benzodiazepines)

Topics Covered:

• Introduction to Addiction Medicine
• Screening, Diagnosis, and Brief Intervention for Substance Use Disorder
• Opioid Use Disorder
• Tobacco Use Disorder
• Alcohol Use Disorder
• Withdrawal Syndromes
• Stimulant Use Disorder
• Polysubstance Use
• Co-occurring Disorders
• Pain and Substance Use Disorders
• Common Medical Complications
• Safe Prescribing
• Harm Reduction and Overdose Prevention
• Psychosocial Interventions
• Addiction in the Workplace
• Recovery Oriented Systems of Care

To register or for more info0rmation please visit: http://www.bccsu.ca/about-the-online-addiction-medicine-diploma/