Safe Opioid Prescribing & Pain Management for Native Americans

Presented by the CSTLTS Grant at SPTHB.

This two-hour training session provides an overview of safe opioid prescribing and pain management using evidence-based and culturally responsive approaches for Native American and Alaska Native patients. Participants will review opioid risks, CDC prescribing guidelines, non-opioid treatment options, patient-centered communication strategies, and harm-reduction practices to support safer prescribing and improved patient outcomes.

1.      Describe key risks associated with opioid therapy and current trends in opioid use.

2.      Apply CDC guidelines to support safe and appropriate opioid prescribing.

3.      Identify patients at risk for opioid-related harms using screening and monitoring tools.

4.       Integrate culturally responsive communication and respect for traditional healing practices into pain management.

5.      Utilize harm-reduction strategies, including non-opioid therapies and naloxone, to improve patient safety.