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 3: Evidence-Based Treatment Approaches: Counseling Interventions
Faculty: Steve Hanson, MSEd
Module Length: 1 hour

Course Description: Welcome to Evidence-Based Treatment Approaches: Counseling Interventions. This module explores counseling interventions that strengthen the use of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in justice settings, focusing on behavioral strategies such as motivational interviewing, trauma-informed care, and cognitive behavioral therapy, along with the stages of change framework to build motivation and engagement. It emphasizes person-centered care while underscoring the prescribing clinician’s responsibility for assessment, medication management, and overdose prevention.