The Overdose Awareness Series presented by Washington Poison Center, is a free virtual series starting on August 8th through August 19th with topics that include self-harm and suicide, teen and young adult substance use, stimulants, opioids, harm reduction strategies, poison center trends. The series will explore unintentional and intentional overdose, how to prevent and reduce harm from overdose, and how to access resources and treatment. Join us in opening dialogue, de-stigmatizing, and promoting awareness of the help available in our communities.
All sessions are free and open to any interested participants.
Sessions will take place on Zoom or on social media.
- Responding To An Overdose Monday, Aug 8, 2022 10:30am Join the Washington Poison Center and our panel of expert partners as we discuss how emergency medical providers respond to overdose situations.
- Resources for Teens on Substance Use Tues., Aug 9, 2022 Video clips will be posted on this page and be released throughout the day on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram Teens are faced with ever-changing and unique stressors to cope with. In these video clips, our panel acknowledges these stressors and explores resources that are available for any teen who wants support.
- Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Thurs., Aug 11, 2022 12:00pm – 1:30pm on Zoom In this presentation about opioid use disorder (OUD), we aim to share decision making strategies on medication therapy, discuss the pathways for patients and advocates to access care, and dispel common myths surrounding OUD.
- Youth Mental Health First Aid Mon., Aug 15, 2022 8:30am – 9:30am on Zoom This presentation will cover: – Awareness of self harm – Myths and facts related to self harm – Risk factors and warning signs related to self harm – Appropriate responses to supporting adolescents who may be struggling with self harm – General resources
- Ask Us Anything, Mon., Aug 15, 2022 3:00pm – 4:30pm on Twitter Bring your questions about the Washington Poison Center, how we operate, what trends we see, and any others to this “Ask Us Anything” session on Twitter.
- Intentional Exposures in Older Adults Tues., Aug 16, 2022 9:30am – 11:00am on Zoom Most calls to the Washington Poison Center regarding older adults (ages 60+) are about mistakes with medications. In recent years, however, the poison center has noted increasing calls about intentional exposure reasons, including substance use and self-harm or suspected suicide.
- Stimulants 101, Wed., Aug 17, 2022 10:00am – 11:00am on Zoom Join us as we discuss: – What stimulants are – Why people use them – The trends we see in Washington State – What harm reduction and treatment services look like for stimulants
- An Exploration of Withdrawal Wed., Aug 17, 2022 11:30am – 12:30pm on Zoom What happens when a drug is stopped? Explore withdrawal syndromes, withdrawal timelines and severity, withdrawal treatment options, and the complex relationship between antidotes and withdrawal.
- Adolescent Self-Poisoning: Discussions with Local Experts Thurs., Aug 18, 2022 Video clips will be posted on this page and be released throughout the day on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram For over two decades, Poison Centers across the United States have tracked substantial increases in cases of adolescent self-poisoning. Although poison centers are experts in supporting the immediate medical needs with these cases, we are not mental health experts and must look to local experts for support. Tune into these videos as we discuss with some of our expert partners (who work with youth in a variety of contexts) the best ways to help reduce and prevent adolescent self-poisoning and support the youth in our lives.
- Drug Checking 101 Fri, Aug 19, 2022 12:30pm – 1:30pm on Zoom Drug checking is an essential harm reduction strategy to prevent overdose. Join us as we discuss what drug checking is, how different types of checking work, how to communicate about drug checking, and what resources are available.
- Meet our Toxicologists Fri., Aug 19, 2022 2:30pm on Facebook and YouTube Feeling inspired after all you’ve learned during this series? Or, just want to learn more about the people behind our poison center services? Come meet our toxicologists!