Centre for Addiction
and Mental Health

Courses A-Z

Opioid Dependence Treatment Core Course

Description

This course prepares physicians, nurses, pharmacists and counsellors/case managers to effectively and safely manage the treatment of clients receiving methadone or buprenorphine opioid dependence. The course is designed to promote interprofessional collaboration among the health care team involved in the delivery of opioid dependence treatment.

The core course consists of five online modules and a one-day workshop.

Learning objectives:

After successfully completing the course, participants will be able to:

explain the pharmacology of opiates and how they affect the brain
define what is opioid dependence based on the DSM-IV criteria
differentiate abstinence based treatment and withdrawal management from methadone and buprenorphine maintenance treatment
decide on the appropriate treatment modality for the opioid-dependent client
implement safe prescribing, dosing, and dispensing of methadone and buprenorphine
explain the rationale for including urine drug testing in an opioid maintenance treatment program
describe the role of counselling and case management in methadone and buprenorphine maintenance treatment
demonstrate interprofessional collaboration

For Ontario Course Offerings

The instructions for methadone prescribing are based on the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, 2011: Methadone Maintenance Treatment Program Standards and Clinical Guidelines.

For Nova Scotia Course Offerings

The instructions for methadone prescribing and dispensing are based on the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia, 2012: Methadone Maintenance Treatment Handbook.

The instructions for methadone dispensing are based on the Nova Scotia College of Pharmacists, 2011: Methadone Maintenance Treatment Services: Standard of Practice for Community Pharmacists in Nova. Scotia.

Target Audience

Physicians, Pharmacists, Counsellor, Nurses

This course is not open to - pharmacy technicians, lab technicians, medical receptionists at this time.

This course is for pharmacists who have to take the course for the first time, as per OCP policy. Pharmacists who plan to take the course as their 5-year refresher cannot take this course and must find alternatives.

For pharmacists who are looking for refresher or waiting to register to the CAMH course, it is recommended that you take the OPA Methadone Education program at:

https://www.opatoday.com/223967

For courses available as refresher courses please contact:

Pharmacy Practice Department at the Ontario College of Pharmacists via email at:

profprac@ocpinfo.com

Delivery Method

The Opioid Dependence Treatment Core course is offered in a blended delivery format that includes an online component and a face to face component.

Online component

5 online modules - participants must complete prior to the workshop and have one month to do so. During this month they can access the course at any time that they wish (24/7), and from any location as long as they have internet access.
Completing the online component involves filling a pre-course learning assessment, and achieving 100% score on all 5 end-of-module quizzes.

Topics covered in the online portion of the course:

Fundamental of opioid dependence
Treatment options for opioid dependence
Counselling clients on maintenance treatment
Urine drug testing (UDT) in maintenance treatment
Dispensing of methadone and buprenorphine

Face to face component

1 day workshop - offered over weekends (Saturday or Sunday)

The one day workshop is a case-based learning event, which focuses on delivering treatment to clients, through interprofessional collaboration.

Following the workshop

Participants will have to complete:

Post course learning assessment (physicians have to complete 2 post-course learning assessments)
End of course exam for physicians and pharmacists

The course remains open for one month following the workshop to allow participants to complete all course requirements.

Cost

$475 Physicians

$400 Pharmacists
$375 Counsellors and Nurses

At this time, we are not accepting cheques, due to a variety of issues surrounding this form of payment for our courses.

We apologize for the inconvenience.

The course is not open to- pharmacy technicians, lab technicians, medical receptionists at this time.

Withdrawals from a course are accepted within one week from the course's start date and is subject to an administrative fee of $100.00

Cancellation notice must be communicated in writing by email.

Cancellation of Course

Should CAMH this course be cancelled for any reason CAMH is not responsible for lost monies for accommodations, flights or other incidentals.

Requirements/Prerequisites

Participants interested in obtaining a Certificate in Opioid Dependence Treatment must complete the ODT Core Course plus three or four elective courses to meet the certificate requirement of a total of 39 or more hours.

All professionals are encouraged to complete the entire certificate program, to improve their skills and knowledge in treating opioid dependence. As of January 1, 2009, physicians are required to complete the certificate program within three years of receiving their methadone exemption.

Participants who are not pursing the Certificate have the option of taking elective courses independently.

The course is not open to- pharmacy technicians, lab technicians, medical receptionists at this time.

Certification/Credits

Accreditation

This course is accredited in Ontario for:

The College of Family Physicians of Canada - (up to) 22.0 Mainpro-M1 credits (13.5 Mainpro-M1 credits for the web-based modules, and 6.5 Mainpro-M1 for the in-class workshop,2.0 Mainpro-M1 credits for the end of course exam);
The College of Family Physicians of Canada - (up to) 6 Mainpro-C credits and 0 Mainpro-M1 Credits (for the in-class workshop);
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada - (up to) 22.0 Section 1 credits (13.5 Section 1 credits for the web-based modules, and 6.5 Section 1 credits for the in-class workshop, and 2.0 Section 1 credits for the end of course exam);
The Canadian Council on Continuing Education in Pharmacy for 20.5 CEUs;
The Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation - 20 Core CEU's

This course is accredited in Nova Scotia for:

The College of Family Physicians of Canada - (up to) 15.5 Mainpro-M1 credits
The College of Family Physicians of Canada - (up to) 6 Mainpro-C credits and 0 M1 credits (for the in-class workshop)
The Canadian Council on Continuing Education in Pharmacy for 20.5 CEUs
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada - (up to) 15.5 Section 1 credits for the online course
The Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation - 20 Core CEU's

Affilliation/Partnership

Faculty of Medicine, Univerity of Toronto

Course Resources

Recommend texts (not included in course fee):

Recommend readings for Ontario Courses

For physicians: Methadone Maintenance: A Physician's Guide to Treatment, 2nd Edition

For pharmacists: Methadone Maintenance: A Pharmacist's Guide to Treatment,
3rd Edition (Coming Soon)

For counsellors and nurses in a case manager role: Methadone Maintenance: A Counsellors Guide to Treatment

All course participants: Methadone Maintenance Treatment: Client Handbook
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, MMT Guidelines 2011

Recommend readings for Nova Scotia Courses

For physicians: The College of Physicians and Surgeons, Nova Scotia (2012). Methadone Maintenance Treatment Handbook

Unauthorized copying and distribution is unlawful. You will have to ensure that you have the final document when it is formally published.

For pharmacists: Comeau, C., Gray, J., Marentette, A., Murphy, K., Nisar, K., Noftle, L. et. al. (Eds.). (2011). Methadone Maintenance Treatment Services: Standard of Practice for Community Pharmacists in Nova Scotia.