Ideal Option Events
Learn about open houses, online group counseling sessions, and live and pre-recorded webinars.
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Live Training on SUD, MAT, and Ideal Option
This 45-minute training will be presented by Dr. Brian Dawson, Chief Medical Officer for Ideal Option, and hosted by a community outreach coordinator.
Attendees will learn:
- The nature of substance use disorder as a treatable chronic disease
- What medication-assisted treatment is and how it works on the brain
- The difference between buprenorphine and methadone
- Our treatment protocols for opioids (incl. fentanyl), alcohol, methamphetamine, cannabis, and kratom
- Clinical and self-reported patient outcomes
- Community partnership programs
- Background on Ideal Option and our care model
A 15-minute live Q&A session will follow the presentation.
Session Registration:
Wednesday, May 15, 2024 | 11:00 a.m. PST
Presented by Dr. Brian Dawson and April Provost
Wednesday, August 21, 2024 | 11:00 a.m. PST
Presented by Dr. Brian Dawson and Sayrd Iverson
Wednesday, November 20, 2024 | 11:00 a.m. PST
Presented by Dr. Brian Dawson and Tyler Vermillion
PAST EVENTS
Recordings now available
Xylazine: Making the Fentanyl Crisis Even Deadlier
RECORDING NOW AVAILABLE
Fentanyl has been dominating the headlines for years, but now xylazine, a highly addictive animal tranquilizer, is getting widespread attention for making the fentanyl crisis even deadlier.
Even with limited testing data, the DEA has found xylazine in nearly every state and about 25% of fentanyl samples. It is fast becoming a nationwide emergency.
Ideal Option’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Brian Dawson, and Community Outreach Coordinator, Athena Huckaby, MPH, presented an expert webinar on xylazine. During this webinar, they:
- Provide an overview of xylazine and the street drug epidemic
- Explain the effects and symptoms of xylazine use
- Present on xylazine detection by Ideal Option and public agencies
- Share clinical protocols implemented at Ideal Option for xylazine treatment
The webinar was followed by a live Q&A session.
Webinar: Kratom: Harmless supplement or dangerous drug?
RECORDING NOW AVAILABLE
Sold in gas stations, smoke shops, and online, kratom is an increasingly popular unregulated herbal supplement used to treat anxiety and depression, boost energy, relieve pain and reduce symptoms of opioid withdrawal.
When taken in high doses, kratom can also produce opioid-like effects. According to the FDA, “kratom, which affects the same opioid brain receptors as morphine, appears to have properties that expose users to the risks of addiction, abuse, and dependence.” Researchers at Ideal Option presented the largest case series to date exploring long-term buprenorphine/naloxone treatment for kratom use disorder (KUD) in an office-based setting.
On June, 29, 2022, at 11:00am PST, Ideal Option’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Brian Dawson, and Community Outreach Coordinator, Athena Huckaby, MPH presented an expert webinar on kratom. During this webinar, they:
- Provided an overview of kratom and how it is used in the U.S.
- Explained the dose-dependent effects of kratom on the brain
- Presented results from our recent case series
- Shared clinical treatment protocols
Webinar: Fentanyl is Everywhere: How Treatment Must Adapt
Recording now Available
Join Ideal Option for a webinar presented by our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Brian Dawson, who is double board-certified in emergency and addiction medicine and a practicing ER physician.
Dr. Dawson will present new protocols and programs to better support patients as they make the transition from fentanyl to buprenorphine – a process that can easily trigger precipitated withdrawal and discourage patients from continuing treatment. He will also answer questions about fentanyl and the complexities of treating patients who are addicted to this highly potent synthetic opioid.
Wednesday, August 18th | 11:00am - 11:45am Pacific Time | Live on Zoom
Webinar: Outpatient Medication-Assisted Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder
RECORDING NOW AVAILABLE
Join Ideal Option for a private webinar recording about our outpatient medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for alcohol use disorder (AUD) with Ideal Option’s senior medical director, Dr. Brian Dawson, who is double board-certified in emergency and addiction medicine and a practicing ER physician.
During this webinar, Dr. Dawson will:
- Provide a brief overview of Ideal Option
- Go over new ASAM guidelines that support outpatient medication-assisted treatment for alcohol use disorder
- Outline Ideal Option's evidence-based 3-step protocol and timeline for treating alcohol withdrawal and relapse prevention in an outpatient setting
- Discuss a warm handoff process to refer patients to Ideal Option for outpatient MAT for AUD
- Answer questions about our AUD treatment
Wednesday, November 4th, 2020 | 11:00am - 11:30am Pacific Time | Live on Zoom
Narcan Training and Demonstration on Facebook Live
Recording Now Available
Wednesday, November 4th, 2020 | 4:00pm-4:30pm Alaska Time / 5:00pm-5:30pm Pacific Time
Live on Facebook
Webinar: Initiating Buprenorphine Treatment in the ER
Recording and slides now available
Join us for a presentation and Q&A session on how to initiate buprenorphine treatment in the ER.
The webinar will be hosted by Ideal Option’s medical director, Dr. Brian Dawson, who is double board-certified in emergency and addiction medicine and a practicing ER physician. Dr. Dawson will:
- Provide a refresher on the effectiveness of initiating buprenorphine in the ER
- Outline the recommended three-step protocol for buprenorphine induction
- Discuss a warm handoff process to ensure patients continue medication-assisted treatment in an outpatient setting after induction in the ER
- Present recent data on the impact of buprenorphine treatment on reducing ER utilization
Tuesday, October 20th
10:30am - 11:00am
Live on Zoom
Webinar: Myths About Recovery
Recording now available
“You’re not in recovery if…”
Besides the stigma of being in recovery, so many times we run into stigma and judgement about recovery. People often insist that their way is the only way to achieve recovery and are quick to shame people who don’t follow the same path.
Peer Seattle+Peer Spokane are joining Ideal Option to present an informational webinar about medication-assisted treatment and peer to peer programs. We will go through 12 myths about recovery and present evidence to dispel them.
When: Thursday, May 7th, 11am-12pm PDT
Register here: https://bit.ly/RecoveryMythsMay7
Questions? Email Rose Symotiuk at rosesymotiuk@idealoption.net.
Facebook Live Q&A: Methadone and Suboxone: Your Questions Answered
Recording now available
Join us on Facebook Live on Wednesday, May 13th for a casual talk and Q&A session with our Medical Director Dr. Brian Dawson about methadone and Suboxone.
What are the differences between methadone and Suboxone? Is one "better" for certain people than the other? Is it possible to switch from methadone to Suboxone? How does that work? Which one is right for you?
We'll answer these questions and any other questions you send us during our Facebook Live video. Mark your calendars and click https://www.facebook.com/pg/idealoptionclinic/videos/ (click "Watch Live" at 11:30am PST on May 13th to join!
View recording
Facebook Live Q&A: Staying in treatment during COVID-19
Recording now available
With the COVID-19 pandemic, our patients have questions and concerns about how to continue their treatment and recovery without disruption during this difficult time. We recently held a Live Q&A session with one of our most popular addiction medicine providers Geoffrey Godfrey, ARNP, to answer all of your questions.
View Recording
Webinar: Preventing Relapse in Times of Crisis
Recording now available
The COVID-19 pandemic is bringing about abrupt social isolation and disruption to daily routines. For people in recovery, and especially those in early recovery, the associated stress and anxiety can trigger return-to-use episodes or even full relapse.
In this webinar, addiction medicine provider Benjamin Rae walks through the common stressors and fears his patients are experiencing right now, and describes simple, practical coping skills anyone can practice to remain in stable recovery.