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First Responder Addiction Education Course Offered To Combat Opioid Crisis

Jan 19, 2021
No. 21-04

Addiction and mental health training is designed specifically for police officers, emergency medical technicians, firefighters and other crisis workers. This interactive, six-hour First Responder Addiction Education course is comprised of 21 topics including: what addiction is and what it is not, identifying currently available street drugs, which drugs are life-threatening, assessing community supports, countermeasures that are available for overdose and awareness, post-acute withdrawal techniques, defense mechanisms, relapse prevention, and family dynamics.

In a crisis environment, it is difficult for an addicted individual to see the negative patterns of their behavior, how the addiction affects their life and the lives of family members and their community. The goal of any community is to triage, redirect and rehabilitate the person to not only help themselves and their families but the community as a whole.

'This is a prime opportunity for first responder organizations to offer this specialized, no-cost, online training to their workers," said DOLWD Commissioner Dr. Tamika L. Ledbetter. "Awareness and education are our best strategies to combat the statewide opioid crisis."

If your organization is interested in this six-hour First Responder Addiction Education course, professionally presented online to your organization by The Addictions Academy®, please email dol.iwt@alaska.gov or call (907) 465-5947. Training is available on a first-come, first-served basis to 20 first responder organizations who apply for training on behalf of their workers. Training must be completed by May 31, 2021.

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