Webinar Features NIDA Deputy Director
Dr. Wilson Compton, deputy director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, was a featured speaker at a webinar sponsored by the Providers Clinical Support System and the American Dental Association on Apr. 3. He joined colleagues Dr. Martha Somerman, director, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, and Dr. Brad Rindal, senior research investigator and associate dental director for research, HealthPartners Dental Group.
Coordinated by NIDA’s NIDAMED program, speakers presented an overview of the opioid crisis, how addiction is a chronic brain disease and how NIH is addressing the issues through research. It recognized the challenges associated with dental procedure pain management in the context of the opioid crisis, addressed the efforts of the HEAL Initiative and discussed ongoing and completed studies related to dental pain management and opioid prescribing studies.
Just over 1,000 dentists participated in the webinar. NIDAMED coordinates the development and dissemination of science-based resources to health care providers nationwide.