With a goal of reducing the harm from drug use, a series of e-learning modules now are available to health care providers to help them learn strategies they can apply.
The modules were developed by Sarah Uhm, a UNMC MD/PhD student and co-founder of the UNMC Student Harm Reduction Advocates, and Nicole Kolm Valdivia, PhD, the UNMC College of Public Health’s assistant dean for academic affairs and an assistant professor of epidemiology.
The series, titled “Harm Reduction Principles and Strategies for Health Professionals,” is available through the University of Nebraska’s NU Advance professional development website. Discount codes are available to access the modules for the first 100 participants for free by emailing here.
Dr. Kolm Valdivia said the harm reduction series is meant to help address the pressing health crisis of opioid use disorder and fatal overdoses through collaborative education and advocacy. They were developed through a grant from the UNMC Office of E-Learning.
The modules are designed to prepare health professionals and health science students across disciplines to better support and care for people who use drugs, raise awareness about harm reduction and empower people to talk about harm reduction in their communities, Dr. Kolm Valdivia said.
The series runs across three videos of less than 10 minutes each, with pre- and post-testing for evaluation purposes.
Dr. Kolm Valdivia said the opioid epidemic continues to devastate families and communities, with overdose deaths increasing by 250% since 1999 and costing the U.S. over $1 trillion annually.
“With the recent $50 billion federal opioid settlement, states are investing in substance use prevention, treatment and, importantly, harm reduction,” she said. “Health care providers who are trained in harm reduction are better positioned to provide empathetic care to their patients.”
Uhm said, “As co-president and one of the co-founders of the Student Harm Reduction Advocates, I believe that every life is worth saving, and harm reduction is how we show up for people with compassion, dignity and science. These strategies don’t just save lives; they build trust, heal communities and create lasting change.”