As the opioid crisis continues in BC, it’s projected that there will be more than 1,500 overdose deaths by December 31, 2017. Through the FPSC, family doctors can access incentives fees and provincial resources to support opioid prescribing and pain management, and the care of patients with addiction challenges, including opioid use disorder. A summary of FPSC incentives demonstrates how doctors can apply these specific fees. Also, the following is a list of additional provincial resources support currently in place:
- Division-led community resources. Pain management and opioid prescribing resources created by divisions for patients and physicians.
- Continuing education opportunities:
- BC Centre on Substance Use Online Addiction Medicine Diploma (CME-accredited, no cost).
- BC Centre on Substance Use Provincial Opioid Addiction Treatment Support Program.
- Cohort Analysis Webinar Series. CCDC’s Overdose Rounds is an opportunity to more widely shared analytic findings from the Provincial Overdose Cohort, highlight regional public health efforts, and explore relevant work going on in jurisdictions outside BC.
- BC Centre for Substance Use Resources. A variety of substance use resources compiled for health care providers, academics, people who use drugs and their families.
- GPAC Guideline: Opioid Use Disorder – Diagnosis and Management in Primary Care. The draft guideline presents recommendations for diagnosis and management of opioid use disorder in primary care with a focus on induction and maintenance of buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) opioid agonist treatment for adults and youth (ages 12 years and older).
- 2017 Canadian Guideline for Opioids for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain. The purpose of this clinical practice guideline is to provide guidance on the use of opioids to manage chronic non-cancer pain for adults (18 years of age or older).
- FP notebook. A rapid access, point-of care medical reference for primary care and emergency clinicians.
- College of Family Physicians of Canada Resources. Chronic and non-cancer pain management and opioid resources.
- Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction Presentation. A presentation entitled Opioid Overdose Public Health Emergency: Escalating the response, given to the FPSC in October 2017.
- University of Toronto Safe Prescribing of Opioids. This educational program offers a curriculum that reflects the Canadian Guideline for Opioids for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain.
The FPSC continues to work with provincial partners to improve care for patients with opioid use and disorder and/or at the risk of overdose. For more information see the FPSC website or contact gpsc@doctorsofbc.ca.