title: Proceedings from Bridging Health Disparities to Address the Opioid Epidemic: A Symposium at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In response to the unprecedented rates of illicit drug use, including opioid addiction and overdose in Rhode Island, local healthcare institutions, led by the Warren Alpert Medical School (AMS) of Brown University, collaborated to present "Bridging Health Disparities to Address the Opioid Epidemic." This symposium sought to educate a wide array of healthcare providers and professionals around opioid use disorder, including the state of the opioid crisis in Rhode Island, national efforts around opioid misuse and how providers can work together to stem the opioid crisis in the state.
  
  
  METHODS
  The symposium included a keynote session which aimed to increase knowledge and decrease stigma. This was followed by two rounds of breakout sessions which focused on various components of opioid disorder treatment. We elicited feedback from participants in order to plan further interventions to educate providers in Rhode Island around the opioid epidemic. Primary Results: Initial feedback was positive. More importantly, this workshop allowed us to identify gaps in knowledge amongst healthcare providers in Rhode Island in order to plan further interventions for healthcare providers, including physicians, around opioid misuse, in Rhode Island.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This symposium is one of the first steps that a consortium of healthcare institutions, including AMS, will take to address the opioid crisis in Rhode Island. Feedback from the event was elicited to identify gaps in healthcare provider knowledge and will be used to design and implement further interventions. [Full article available at http://rimed.org/rimedicaljournal-2017-04.asp].
authors.affiliation: The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI.
authors.forename: Luba
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dumenco
authors.affiliation: The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI.
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.affiliation: The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mello
authors.affiliation: The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI.
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.affiliation: The Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI.
authors.forename: Don
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Operario
authors.affiliation: The Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Scanlan
authors.affiliation: The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dollase
authors.affiliation: The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: George
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019058:Community Networks; D003226:Congresses as Topic; D058872:Epidemics; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D009270:Naloxone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D063487:Prescription Drug Misuse / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012237:Rhode Island; D014495:Universities
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009270:Naloxone
keywords: addiction; naloxone; opioid; overdose