OADPOP Academy

The OADPOP Academy is a signature learning pathway within the POINT Center, designed to strengthen Maryland’s drug user health workforce through accessible, skills-based training.

The Academy blends on-demand modules, live practice sessions, and community storytelling to build practical, real-world competencies for anyone engaging with people at risk for overdose.

The Academy supports new and experienced outreach staff, community-based organizations, and health and social service professionals across Maryland. Participants receive certificates of completion for each module or series completed.

Register for the OADPOP Academy!

Register for the next OADPOP Academy taking place on April 17, 2026.

Registration is required to participate.

Register

What is an Opioid-Associated Disease Prevention and Outreach Program (OADPOP)?

OADPOPs are jointly authorized under Maryland law by the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) and local health departments to provide a wide range of essential health and social services to people at risk for overdose. This includes education and supplies to prevent overdose, reduce infectious disease transmission and increase access to substance use, mental health, and medical services. Visit MDH’s website for more information about OADPOPs in Maryland.

Why Participate in the OADPOP Academy?

The OADPOP Academy is an MDH-certified training program for staff and volunteers working in authorized OADPOPs in Maryland. The OADPOP Academy creates a unified, statewide learning model that:

  • Builds confidence and competency across Maryland’s drug user health workforce
  • Reflects community voices and lived experience
  • Reinforces consistency and quality across outreach services
  • Supports professional development through recognized certificates
  • Strengthens Maryland’s capacity to respond to evolving community needs

The Academy is an essential component of the POINT Center’s mission to prepare, support, and elevate the teams who deliver drug user health services across Maryland.

OADPOP Academy Curriculum

Registration opens April 17

Part One

Foundations in Drug User Health

Provides the foundational knowledge needed to support people at risk for overdose with dignity, safety, and evidence-informed practice. This includes three (3) self-paced modules followed by a live skills practice session.

  • Module 1: Introduction to Drug User Health
    (Open April 17 – May 7)
  • Module 2: Understanding Opioid Associated Disease Prevention and Outreach Programs
    (Open April 17 – May 7)
  • Module 3: Motivational Interviewing for Drug User Health
    (Open April 17 – May 7)
  • Live session: Practicing Motivational Interviewing Techniques
    (Scheduled for May 5 and May 7)

Focus areas include:

  • Core concepts in drug user health
  • Community engagement grounded in lived experience
  • Practical strategies for safer use, linkage, and navigation
  • Reducing stigma and strengthening trust

Part Two

Core People Skills

Designed to strengthen the interpersonal skills essential to effective outreach, this pathway helps participants build confident, respectful communication with clients and communities.

  • Module 4: Outreach and Engagement with People at Risk of Overdose
    (Open May 7–May 21)
  • Module 5: De-escalation and Conflict Management
    (Open May 7–May 21)
  • Live session: Applied Outreach and De-escalation 
    (Scheduled for May 19 and May 21)

Skills developed include:

  • Culturally responsive communication
  • Trauma-informed engagement
  • Motivational and strengths-based approaches
  • Relationship-building strategies

Part Three

Technical and Clinical Skills

A deeper dive into the tools, protocols, and applied skills needed to support safe, informed drug user health outreach.

  • Module 6: Common Drugs and Methods of Intake
    (Open May 21 – June 4)
  • Module 7: Wound Care
    (Open May 21 – June 4)
  • Module 8: Drug Checking as Care: Test Strip Training
    (Open May 21 – June 4)
  • Module 9: Overdose Prevention and Response
    (Open May 21 – June 4)
  • Live session: Hands-On Technical Skills for Drug User Health
    (Scheduled for June 2 and June 4)

Topics include:

  • Overdose prevention
  • Screening and linkage workflows
  • Safe handling of supplies and equipment
  • Program documentation and quality assurance

Advanced Training Series

The Advanced Series builds on the OADPOP curriculum by offering specialized modules for seasoned outreach workers ready to deepen their expertise.

Upcoming topics may include:

  • Emerging issues in community drug use trends
  • Complex case engagement
  • Interdisciplinary collaboration
  • Community-led innovation in drug user health

This series is recommended for individuals looking to lead programs, supervise teams, or specialize their skillsets.

  • Ethical and Compassionate Pregnancy Care for People at Risk for Overdose

    This webinar will explore compassionate, ethical ways to provide supportive care during pregnancy for people at risk for overdose, with a focus on respect, dignity, and practical approaches. Highlights on how nonjudgmental, evidence-informed approaches can promote health, informed choice, and personal autonomy for both the parent and baby will also be shared.

    Learn More: Ethical and Compassionate Pregnancy Care for People at Risk for Overdose

  • Sex Work, Health, and Safety: Building Trust Through Community Engagement

    This webinar will focus on the intersection of sex work, health access, and community safety. Participants will explore trust-building strategies and engagement approaches that support autonomy, reduce stigma, and promote safer service environments.

    Learn More: Sex Work, Health, and Safety: Building Trust Through Community Engagement

  • Creating Stigma-Free Services: Clinical Settings

    LIVE WEBINAR | APRIL 15, 2026 | This session focuses on reducing stigma in clinical settings serving people at risk of overdose, with an emphasis on improving patient experience, strengthening provider communication, and implementing systems-level changes that enhance engagement, retention in care, and overall health outcomes across Maryland.

    Learn More: Creating Stigma-Free Services: Clinical Settings

  • Engaging Youth Through Trust-Centered Approaches

    LIVE WEBINAR | APRIL 29, 2026 | Focused on adolescents and young adults, this session explores developmentally appropriate, trust-centered engagement strategies that support safety, autonomy, and connection to services.

    Learn More: Engaging Youth Through Trust-Centered Approaches

  • Ketamine and Psychedelic Substances in Practice: What Providers and Communities Need to Know

    LIVE WEBINAR | APRIL 16, 2026 | This advanced session explores the evolving landscape of ketamine and other psychedelic substances as they appear in clinical settings, community conversations, and personal use. Participants will examine current evidence, emerging models of care, ethical considerations, and how providers can engage in informed, nonjudgmental conversations while navigating Maryland’s legal…

    Learn More: Ketamine and Psychedelic Substances in Practice: What Providers and Communities Need to Know