• Watch for warning signs in clients and staff

• Follow FDA guidance

• Help educate clients and colleagues

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Your veterinary clinic staff plays a vital role in helping to identify and prevent misuse of controlled substances. It is important to get information about misuse into the hands of your staff members and drip.vet is helping you do this.

Click on the image at the right to download a free opioid education poster that you may use in your clinic. 

The Food and Drug Administration offers some valuable guidance in The Opioid Epidemic: What Veterinarians Need to Know.  The FDA provides the following information on how to tell if a client or employee is potentially abusing opioids.

Some warning signs that a client is potentially abusing opioids may include:

• Suspect injuries in a new patient
• Asking for specific medications by name
• Asking for refills for lost or stolen medications
• Pet owner is insistent in their request

Some warning signs that veterinary staff may be abusing opioids include:

• Mood swings, anxiety, or depression
• Mental confusion and an inability to concentrate
• Making frequent mistakes at work
• Not showing up for work

The role of opioids in veterinary staff suicides must also be examined. Suicide is more likely among veterinarians than among the general population — 1.6 times more likely for male veterinarians and 2.4 times more likely for female veterinarians. Veterinary technicians and technologists are also more likely to commit suicide than the general population — 5.0 times more likely for males and 2.3 times more likely for females. Vet technicians and technologists most often died from opioid poisoning.

No one is blaming veterinarians directly for this crisis, but as DEA registrants and prescribers, veterinarians are part of the supply chain. State legislatures have chosen two routes to help stem the crisis, education for prescribers and prescription drug monitoring programs.

Drip.vet has created Opioid 411 Anytime to fulfill requirements for Licensure renewal.

The courses are highly practical, relevant, and as streamlined as possible. They are written and delivered by Lance Roasa, DVM, MS, JD, a practicing veterinarian, and attorney. Aiding in the creation of course content are Christopher Byers, DVM, DACVECC, DACVIM, CVJ, and Drew Olson, DVM. They are supported by a team of production professionals who develop high-quality video content. Learner-experience managers are available to assist anyone who has a question about the courses or who needs help with the online learning management system.