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Ever experienced Opioid Abuse?
Dr. Obie Benavides lost a student-athlete to opioid abuse that was an inspiration to him.
One single pill that was not from a pharmacy but a “friend” was all it took to end his life in March of 2018.
Dr. Benavides has spoken at conferences and guest posted on The ATVantage and NATA blogs
![Opioid Abuse; Obie Benavides; Lamar University; opiates](https://sportsmedicinebroadcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG_1805-1024x683.jpg)
What Opioid Abuse?
Opioids / Opiates are similar but not identical.
Opioids are synthetic chemicals whereas opiates are plant-based or naturally occurring from opium
Using them other than as prescribed is opioid abuse.
- Using them for longer than prescribed
- Giving them to someone else
- Hoarding them for later use
- Selling them
What does it LOOK like?
Obie says some of the signs and symptoms of opioid abuse might present as:
- Pupils being off
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Requestion medication by name and dosage
- Being absent
- withdrawing
- Itching
- Dry Mouth
- Low Tetosterone levels
What can we do as Athletic Trainers?
Patient Education is number one.
- Develop a Post-op Pain Management Plan
- There will be some level of pain
- Medications will help manage the pain
- Use pills as needed for this surgery
- Properly dispose of unused pills
- Do not share unused pills with anyone
- Start the dialogue with the athlete before the surgery
- Involve the parents
- Educate Parents
- Establish Real Pain Management Goals
- Monitor the athletes
- Attend surgeries when possible
- Log the procedure and medications prescribed
- Follow up within a week and document number of times meds have been used
Be willing to have uncomfortable conversations
ATsCare is a great resource for learning to have uncomfortable conversations.
Be willing to ask questions.
Watch the conversation live on Facebook
Resources
ATsCare (https://www.nata.org/membership/about-membership/member-resources/ats-care),
The Drug Enforcement Agency website (https://apps.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubdispsearch/)
Contact Us
Obie Benavides, DAT, LAT, ATC, AIB-VR/CON
Associate Athletic Trainer – Baseball
Drug Prevention & Education Coordinator
Lamar University
211 Red Bird Lane | PO Box 10066 | Beaumont, TX 77710
O: 409-880-7229
F: 409-880-2366
These people LOVE Athletic Trainers and help support the podcast:
Frio Hydration – Superior Hydration products.
Donate and get some swag (like Patreon but for the school)
HOIST – No matter your reason for dehydration DRINK HOIST
MedBridge Education – Use “TheSMB” to save some, be entered in a drawing for a second year free, and support the podcast.
Marc Pro – Use “THESMB” to recover better.
Frio Hydration – Superior Hydration products.
Donate and get some swag (like Patreon but for the school)
HOIST – No matter your reason for dehydration DRINK HOIST
MedBridge Education – Use “TheSMB” to save some, be entered in a drawing for a second year free, and support the podcast.
Marc Pro – Use “THESMB” to recover better.