Tools for Health Professionals

Alcohol

Alcohol Use Disorder Tool for Primary Care Providers (2019, Centre for Effective Practice) 

The Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) Tool aims to guide primary care providers through the identification and management of individuals who have challenges with alcohol use.  It includes information on special patient populations, tips for screening patients, pharmacotherapy treatment options and talking tips to help guide primary care providers through conversations with their patients about alcohol use.

Cannabis 

Cannabis 5 in 5 – ‘5 Things to Know About Cannabis’ (Video, 2018) (Kelly Grindrod PhD, UW)

This short summary video acts as a clinical support tool for health professionals, including pharmacists. Content includes effects of THC and CBD, clinical uses of cannabis, and risk factors for developing cannabis use disorder.

Related content is also available on www.kellygrindrod.com/resources/ including a fact sheet on cannabis with practical tips for medical cannabis.

Harm Reduction

MDMA (ecstacy, molly)

MDMA Overdose: Quick Reference for Health Care Professionals (2018)

This resource was developed through the University of Waterloo, School of Pharmacy ahead of the Ever After Music Festival in 2018. It provides general information about MDMA, recommendations for evaluating the patient in the emergency department, and symptom management.

Methamphetamine

The Meth Infographic (2018) was developed by the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy to provide a concise overview of methamphetamine for health professionals (included are reasons for use, effects of use, overdose, and potential treatment options). 

Opioids

• Fentanyl and other Opioids Presentation and Slides (2018) was developed by Dr. Michael Beazely, University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy for pharmacists. It includes how opioids work, history of opioid use, and use of naloxone.
• Opioids and Naloxone (2018) and Naloxone (2018) presentations were developed by Dr. Kelly Grindrod, University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy, for health professionals, including pharmacists.
• Opioid Clinical Primer (2018) was developed by the MOHLTC and UofT with substantial input from experts in certified professional development (CPD) and subject matter experts from each of Ontario’s Medical schools  This program provides an overview of key concepts and skills for clinicians facing common challenges in the management of patients with chronic pain, including reducing the risks of opioids and addressing opioid use disorder.
• Opioids for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain – 5 Things to Know About Using Opioids for Chronic Non Cancer Pain (Video, 2018) (Kelly Grindrod PhD, UW)
  • This short summary video acts as a clinical support tool for health professionals, including pharmacists. Content includes effects of opioids on pain relief, opioid use disorder, side effects of opioids, alternative options for pain control, total daily opioid dose, and tapering. Related content is also available on www.kellygrindrod.com/resources/ including two fact sheets:
  • Chronic Opioid Prescriptions
  • Acute Opioid Prescriptions
• Opioid Prescribing for Chronic Pain – Health Quality Ontario (2018)
  • This quality standard provides guidance on the prescribing, monitoring, and tapering of opioids to treat chronic pain for people 15 years of age and older in all care settings. It does not address opioid prescribing for acute pain or end-of-life care, nor does it address the management of opioid use disorder in depth.
• The 2017 Canadian Guidelines for Opioids for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain  (2017)
  • This clinical practice guideline provides guidance on the use of opioids to manage chronic non-cancer pain for adults (18 years of age or older). Chronic non-cancer pain, for purposes of this guideline, includes any painful condition that persists for more than three months that is not associated with a diagnosis of cancer
• Guideline for the Clinical Management of Opioid Use Disorder (2018) (British Columbia Centre on Substance Use)
  • These guidelines provide recommendations for the treatment of opioid use disorder for physicians, nurses and allied health professionals. Recommendations around use of buprenorphine/naloxone, methadone and slow-release oral morphine are included.
• Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder During Pregnancy – Guideline Supplement (2018) (Perinatal Services BC, BC Centre on Substance Use)
  • This document provides an overview of care principles and treatment options pertaining to pregnant women. The guidelines recognize persistent misconceptions about pregnant people who use substances as a primary barrier to accessing treatment for opioid use disorder during pregnancy. This guideline is a supplement for the Guideline for the Clinical Management of Opioid Use Disorder.
• Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder for Youth – Guideline Supplement  (2018) (BC Ministry of Health and BC Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions)
  • This document provides an overview of care principles and recommended treatment options for youth with an opioid use disorder. The guidelines recommend that the full range of treatment options be considered for youth, including opioid agonist therapy. This is a supplement for the Guideline for the Clinical Management of Opioid Use Disorder.

Rapid Access Addiction Medicine/Clinics

• The Rapid Access Addiction Clinic website provides information about clinics and services offered in Waterloo Wellington. 
• The META:PHI website offers information about the META:PHI care model, clinical addiction tools for health care providers, resources for patients, and information about rapid access addiction medicine clinics across the province. Emergency department and primary care tools are also available on the site including for alcohol, opioids, tobacco, cannabis and benzodiazepines.