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Massachusetts Dental Schools Respond to the Prescription Opioid Crisis: A Statewide Collaboration
David A Keith1, Ronald J Kulich2, Monica Bharel2
1Dr. Keith is Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Harvard School of Dental Medicine and Visiting Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Massachusetts General Hospital; Dr. Kulich is Professor, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and the Pain Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Dr. Bharel is Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Public Health; Dr. Boose is Executive Director, Massachusetts Dental Society; Dr. Brownstein is with Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates; Dr. Da Silva is Vice Dean and Associate Professor of Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials Sciences, Harvard School of Dental Medicine; Dr. D'Innocenzo is Clinical Professor and Director of Predoctoral Oral Surgery Education, Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine; Dr. Donoff is Dean and Guralnick Distinguished Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Harvard School of Dental Medicine; Ms. Factor is Director of Dental Practice and Membership Engagement Services, Massachusetts Dental Society; Dr. Hutter is Dean and Spencer N. Frankl Professor in Dental Medicine, Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine; Dr. Shaefer is Assistant Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Director of Anesthesia and Pain Management Education, Harvard School of Dental Medicine Clinic; Dr. Karimbux is Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor of Periodontology, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine; Ms. Jack is a student, Harvard Medical School Class of 2018; and Dr. Thomas is Dean, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. DKEITH@partners.org.
Abstract:
The prescription opioid crisis has involved all sectors of U.S. society, affecting every community, socioeconomic group, and age group. While federal and state agencies are actively working to deal with the epidemic, medical and dental providers have been tasked to increase their awareness of the issues and consider ways to safely prescribe opioids and, at the same time, effectively treat their patients' pain. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, under the leadership of Governor Charles D. Baker and his administration, challenged the state's four medical schools and three dental schools to improve their curricula to prepare the next generation of clinicians to deal with this crisis in an evidence-based, effective, and sympathetic way. This Perspectives article outlines the national prescription opioid crisis, details its effects in Massachusetts, and describes the interdisciplinary collaboration among the Commonwealth, the three dental schools, the Massachusetts Dental Society, and a concerned student group. The article also describes the efforts each dental school is undertaking as well as an assessment of the challenges and limitations in implementing the initiative. The authors hope that the Massachusetts model will be a useful resource for dental schools in other states.
