Integrating Controlled Substance Risk Assessment and Management into Dental Practice [Webinar]

Please note: A Certificate of Completion is available for currently archived webinars through our partnership with the Providers Clinical Support System (PCSS).  In order to claim a certificate, you must view the webinar and complete the evaluation through the PCSS site.

This on-demand webinar from July 21, 2021 will cover evidence-based strategies for integrating controlled substance risk assessment into the dental practice. These strategies include: a review of the prevalence of substance misuse and abuse among dental patients, reducing risk by brief structured assessment, recognizing comorbid patient risk factors, usage of state prescription drug monitoring programs, and inter-professional collaboration with colleagues in addiction medicine/mental health, primary care, and pain medicine.

Viewers will learn strategies for delegating aspects of assessment and management to dental hygienists and other supervised clinicians. Barriers to implementation will also be discussed. The above template for care is based upon current work in development through the Tufts Controlled Substance Risk Mitigation Project.

Upon viewing this webinar, you will be able to:

• Recognize patient risk factors for misuse and abuse of controlled substances
• Review tools for assessing patient risk, including validated screeners and state prescription drug monitoring program databases
• Identify strategies for improved inter-professional care of complex patients with active substance use disorder

Reminder: You must view the recorded webinar for this activity on the PCSS website to be eligible to receive a certificate of completion.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) information and resources on Drug Overdose
• U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) | Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) | Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT)
• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Drug Screening Tool for Drug Use in General Medical Settings
• NIDA Resource Guide: Screening for Drug Use in General Medical Settings
• NIDA How Naloxone Saves Lives in Opioid Overdose [Video]
• Tufts University School of Dental Medicine 10 Modules & Training – Controlled Substance Risk Education

About the presenter

Ronald J. Kulich, Ph.D.

Dr.  Kulich is a Full Professor and clinical psychologist at Tufts School of Dental Medicine, and holds a Lecturer appointment at Harvard-MGH, Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine. He has published multiple peer reviewed papers on pain assessment and management. His responsibilities include development and management of opioid risk assessment protocols for the Massachusetts General Hospital Pain Center and Facial Pain/Headache Center at Tufts School of Dental Medicine. Other academic responsibilities include treatment guideline development for work injury with Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents, training committee for the MA Prescription Monitoring Program, multiple opioid risk guideline committees, and he has been co-chair of the Massachusetts Governor’s Committee for the Curriculum on Substance Abuse assessment for dentistry. Fellowship training responsibilities include supervision of Anesthesia/Pain Medicine and Orofacial Pain Medicine Fellows (Mass General Hospital), as well as contributing to the behavioral sciences curriculum for Tufts School of Dental Medicine and supervision of psychology graduate interns.