Tranq-Deadly Combination of Xylazine, Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Update-Cookeville

Notes:

• NAADAC Counselor Group Skills: Clinical Intake and Screening, Counseling Services, Case management, Treatment plan, Discharge, Continuing Care and Professional Development
• Contact Hours & CEUs: 6.0 hours
• Cost: $60
• Approved by:  NAADAC, TDMHSAS, TCB and  CPRS.
• Is Lunch Provided? Yes

Course Description:

There is a rapidly expanding crisis in the United States involving a psychoactive form of fentanyl and the street drug Xylazine. Over the past year, thousands of overdoses have been reported. While efforts to stop the sales and import of “Tranq”, the drug presents a serious public health risk of potentially wider impact than the original opioid crisis.

This presentation will update the latest neurobiological research on Xylazine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other street drugs, their legal status, and adverse effects. Drug testing requirements, management of “Tranq” overdose, and other street drug toxicities will also be a part of our discussions.

Now medetomidine and dexmedetomidine have been added to the fentanyl formula, which adds a more deadly component to the street. Also included in the talk will be a discussion of the latest update on the possible Xylazine overdose rescue medications.

Course Goals:

Participants will:

• Develop an understanding of the pharmacology of Xylazine, methamphetamine, and Fentanyl.
• Understand the procedures of managing a Xylazine, methamphetamine, and Fentanyl overdose.
• Discover the concerns of the influx of the counterfeit drugs that contain Xylazine, medetomidine, dexmedetomidine, methamphetamine, and Fentanyl.
• Explore the possible Xylazine overdose rescue medications that are currently being researched.

Presenter:

Dr. Merrill Norton is an EMMY winning Clinical Associate Professor Emeritus of the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy with his specialty areas to include psychopharmacology and addiction pharmacy. He was most recently honored by the Georgia Addiction Counselors Association’s Board of Directors and Certification Board with being bestowed the first Certified Master Addiction Counselor (CMAC) credential in the state. His book, Understanding Substance Use Disorders Pharmacology, has been used to train thousands of mental health professionals nationally and his latest book, and The Pharmacist’s Guide to Opioid Use Disorders was released in December 2018.

Dr. Norton completed his undergraduate and graduate work at the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy. He accomplished a three-year addiction medicine fellowship under the direction of Douglas Talbott MD at Ridgeview Institute and has state, national, and international credentials in the treatment of mentally ill/addicted/chronic pain individuals. He has also been a faculty member of the Fairleigh-Dickinson University Postdoctoral Training Program in the Masters of Psychopharmacology, Alliant International University of San Francisco College of Psychology, University of Georgia School of Continuing Education, and Berry College in the areas of Psychopharmacology and Addiction Pharmacy. His areas of specialty in addiction pharmacy are the management of chronic pain in patients dealing with substance use disorders, and the neuroscience of substance use disorders.