Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) in Justice Settings: Foundations and Best Practices

Course Description: These online self-paced modules provide a foundational understanding of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) and their application in justice-involved populations. Learners will explore the neurobiology of opioid use disorder and the clinical use of methadone, buprenorphine, and extended-release naltrexone for opioid use disorder treatment. These modules address barriers, legal frameworks, and patient-centered strategies—including motivational interviewing and trauma-informed care—needed to optimize outcomes in both healthcare and legal contexts. It also explores practical and legal challenges in treatment courts, including the roles of courts and providers, treatment engagement, compliance monitoring, toxicology testing, ADA requirements, and decisions about MOUD continuation or discontinuation when court sanctions are being considered.

Module 1: Understanding Opioid Use Disorder
Faculty: Elizabeth M. Salisbury-Afshar, MD, MPH, FAAFP, FACPM, DFASAM
Module Length: 1 hour

Module Description: Welcome to Understanding Opioid Use Disorder. This module introduces the foundations of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in justice settings. It explores the science of addiction and OUD, including neurobiological mechanisms, diagnostic criteria, and risk factors such as trauma and adverse childhood experiences. The module highlights the importance of evidence-based treatment, overdose prevention, and person-first language to reduce stigma. Emphasizing addiction as a treatable, chronic condition, it underscores the need for access to all FDA-approved MOUD within treatment courts and correctional settings.