CDCM PHA STEM Lesson – Uncovering the Opioid Epidemic

In Uncovering the Opioid Epidemic, student scientists learn about different types of opioids and how each type has contributed to the rise in overdose deaths since 1999. Students also learn about different interventions that have been effective in treating opioid use disorder (OUD). Students explore stories from people affected by OUD and then use the public health approach to design an intervention to reduce opioid misuse and overdoses. Students share their interventions with the public to increase awareness of the opioid overdose epidemic.

Topics included in Uncovering the Opioid Epidemic:

• Types of opioids
• Understanding the causes and effects of opioid use disorder
• Effective public health interventions to address opioid use disorder
• Using the public health approach to address epidemics
• Public health communication