Louisiana MOUD Training

The Justice Speakers Institute (JSI), in collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections, created this in-person training on opioid use disorder (OUD) and medications to address this disease.  It is specifically tailored to equip criminal justice professionals with the essential information necessary for supervising individuals with this disease.

Criminal justice professionals in Louisiana will be educated about OUD and Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD). The training utilized a collaborative learning model where participants learned with a team of subject-matter experts. Several of the sessions involved group discussions, peer-to- peer learning, and case-based scenarios.

A variety of topics related to OUD and MOUD were discussed, including:

• the effects of substance use disorders;
• recovery on the brain and body;
• stigma and patient rights;
• evidence-based screening and assessment for OUD;
• outcomes of MOUD for criminal justice populations;
• relapse management; and, 
• the role of MOUD in long-term recovery.

The training included a session about Narcan (also known as naloxone); a medication used to rapidly reverse an opioid overdose. It is a critical tool in the fight against the opioid epidemic, and it has saved countless lives. The session focused on how Narcan works, and how to administer it.

During the training program, attendees gained knowledge about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and its impact upon individuals who are receiving MOUD. The ADA mandates government agencies to make reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities, including those on MOUD. Attendees learned supervision best practices while monitoring individuals suffering from OUD.

Before participating, attendees completed a web-based survey to assess their knowledge and attitudes towards OUD and MOUD. Attendees also had the opportunity to provide an actual situation involving an individual suffering from MOUD.