Executive Summary
The impact of the opioid epidemic has been
felt in communities in all 50 U.S. states. Curbing
the epidemic’s exponential trajectory requires
special attention from dental educators. Academic
dental institutions are using a variety of methods
to mitigate substance misuse, including curriculum
and clinical protocol changes. Dental educators are
key to teaching best practices in prescribing to the
next generation of practicing dentists. This policy
brief highlights strategies that demonstrate
academic dentistry’s contributions to combating
the opioid epidemic