Let’s Talk About Opioids

Wisconsin Health Literacy (WHL) partnered with 5 justice-involved facilities to develop a curriculum to help justice-involved individuals understand the risks of opioid overdose upon release from prison or parole, as well as resources available for alternate treatment. 

WHL had originally planned to implement 4 workshops with each partner as follows: 1st workshop: WHL presents and a corrections' facilitator (inmate, facility/staff educator, or volunteer observes); 2nd workshop: WHL and corrections' facilitator co-present; 3rd workshop: Corrections’ facilitator presents and WHL staff observes and offers feedback; and 4th workshop: Corrections’ facilitator independently presents this and any future workshops.

However, due to COVID-19, the workshops could not be presented in the facilities. WHL pivoted and created new delivery methods that could be used now, including a train-the-trainer webinar and self-guided learning materials.

The resources below are available for justice-involved facilities to use, but are not suitable for reproduction. If you would like a print-ready copy, please contact us at healthliteracy@wisconsinliteracy.org.

Train-the-trainer webinar: Facility staff and peer educators can view a webinar to learn how to lead a “Let’s Talk About Opioids” workshop at their own facilities.

View the webinar and download these materials to follow along:

“Let’s Talk About Opioids” Workbook
"Let's Talk About Opioids" - Facilitator Script 

Spanish copies of the workbook are also available for download when implementing the workshop at your facility. 

Self-guided learning materials: Justice-involved individuals can learn about opioid topics on their own using the "Let's Talk About Opioids" Student Book and accompanying Activity Book.

"Let’s Talk About Opioids" Student Book
Activity Book

Spanish copies:
Student Book
Activity Book   

Videos on safe opioid use: As part of the original curriculum, WHL also developed a Moodle module that will be disseminated by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections to incarcerated individuals. They will be able to use tablets to access learning modules through an online platform called RACHEL. Follow this link to the Moodle: https://letstalkaboutopioids.moodle.school/course/view.php?id=4

Video links for those that cannot access RACHEL: View the links below to learn about specific opioid topics.
1. Introduction to opioids
2. Risks of taking opioids: tolerance, dependence, addiction, and using other drugs
3. Unique risks for justice-involved people
4. Synthetic opioids and their risks
5. Opioid safety
6. Signs of an overdose and how to prevent it

View full length video: The 6 videos above are also combined into
1 full video. Download this Video Facilitator Script for added discussion about opioid topics covered in this video.  

Fact sheets: Download and share these fact sheets below on different opioid topics, available in English and Spanish.

English copies:

Recovery and Opioid Resources (2 pages)
Increased Risk of Death from Opioids
Know What an Opioid Overdose Looks Like

Spanish copies:

Recovery and Opioid Resources (2 pages)
Increased Risk of Death from Opioids
Know What an Opioid Overdose Looks Like 
 

The project was supported with generous funding from Wisconsin Department of Health Services Minority Health Program.

If you are interested in learning more about this project, please contact us at healthliteracy@wisconsinliteracy.org.

Note: These materials were developed for use in Wisconsin. Some content like the Good Samaritan Law may not be applicable to other states.