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March 20, 2025 @ 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
Cost: $10.00
Prescription Opioid Abuse:
Focusing on Social Isolation in Older Adults
February 9, 2022
10:00am – 12:00pm
Cost: $10.00
2.0 social work CEUs available
This webinar is made possible through a generous Quality of Life grant from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation
THE LINK TO THE WEBINAR WILL BE SENT TO YOU WITHIN 48 HOURS, ONE WEEK PRIOR, ONE DAY BEFORE, AND THE DAY OF THE WEBINAR AS REMINDERS
(Always check your Spam folder as well for the email to the webinar link)
Description: Opiate addiction has skyrocketed within a growing number of older Americans who are now becoming addicted to prescription opioid drugs like Oxycontin and Vicodin. While drug-related deaths have increased dramatically in all age groups, the greatest percentage increase has been among adults ages 55 to 64. As older individuals approach transitional life events such as divorce, empty-nesting and the loss of a parent, it is important for family members to be actively aware of any changes in their behavior that may reflect opioid misuse. Even dealing with difficult emotions up to and including retirement may throw become a tipping point for older adults to self-medicate and isolate to cope. Chronic and persistent pain is often managed with strong opioid medications like Oxycontin, Percocet, or Vicodin, and it is common for health care professionals to overlook the potential for addiction in their older patients. Although there are various strategies to managing pain in older adults that do not involve prescription drugs, opioids still tend to be over-prescribed in this age group. Participants will learn about determinism and how addiction treatment for individuals over 50 with chronic pain can become more of a solution in addition, be able to describe the generational and co-morbidity aspects of the Baby Boomer Generation. By taking a hard look at prescription medication addiction, participants will also learn to apply practical tools for older adults and learn the importance of a thorough assessment which includes proper engagement in the recovery process and continued personal growth. This informative training brings to light the most current facts and statistics including generational & evidence-based treatment approaches. Finally, the training will provide concrete supports to older adults so that they may engage in their own treatment, address their chronic pain with safe management techniques and find hope through the enduring process of holistic addiction recovery.
Objectives:
- Defining the deterministic viewpoint behavior and how it manifests into addiction in certain populations.
- Understanding the basics of addiction as a disease and root causes of addiction.
- Describing the effects of trauma in individuals living with paralysis, older adults, and other disabilities, and how it affects their emotions.
- Explaining the psychology of basic needs and brain reward.
- Making sense of current statistics and other cultural factors.
- Exploring recovery interventions for holistic healing in older adult populations and individuals living with paralysis.
- Understanding the impact that COVID and social isolation has on prescription drug abuse.
- Gain knowledge of the correlation between social isolation and increased drug abuse.
Target Audience: This training is for older adults, and those living with paralysis, as well as those who provide care to individuals living with paralysis. In addition, this training is also for those who work in community settings such as aging care managers, housing staff, nurses, social workers, counselors, acute care and long-term care staff, substance abuse and mental health providers, as well as family members.
**Special Discount Code**
The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation is committed to providing opportunities to individuals with paralysis. In keeping with their mission, webinar scholarships are available for those living with paralysis, their family members and caregivers. If you or a family member is living with paralysis, please enter the following code at check-out to receive a scholarship. Code: Superman
PennCares Cancellation Policy
- PennCares Support Services reserves the right to cancel an event due to low enrollment or other circumstances which would make the event non-viable.
- PennCares reserves the right to substitute course instructors as necessary.
- If PennCares cancels an event, registrants will be offered a full refund.
Postponement: Should circumstances arise that result in the postponement of an event, registrants will have the option to either receive a full refund or transfer registration to the same event at the new, future date.
Substitutions and Transfers: We understand that circumstances may occur to prevent you from attending a training. If you find that you are unable to attend one of PennCares’ trainings, you have several options:
- Send a substitute: Substitutions are accepted as long as a written request is received. Substitutions may be made without penalty provided the original registrant contacts PennCares at trainings@penncares.org to request this change.
- Transfer to another course: Transfers are accepted up to the day of the event as long as a written request is received. In the event the registrant cannot attend a scheduled course for which he or she is enrolled, registration can be transferred to another course.
- Refund of monies: Requests for refunds must be made in writing and received by the training refund deadline stated on the training registration form. (See below for cancellation policy).
Registration Cancellation by Participant
- Unless specifically stated on registration materials, the deadline to request a refund for your registration is 5 business days before the event.
- Registration cancellations requested prior to the deadline will be eligible to receive a refund less a 5% administration fee. *
- Cancellations received less than 5 business days before the event will not be eligible for a refund and will be billed for the total cost.
- Registered no-shows are not eligible for a refund and will be billed the total cost.
- Cancellations will be accepted via e-mail to trainings@penncares.org and must be received by the stated cancellation deadline.
- All refund requests must be made by the attendee/payee.
- Refund requests must include the name of the attendee, the training date, and payment method.
These above policies apply to all PennCares trainings unless otherwise noted in the corresponding event materials. Please read all individual event information thoroughly.