Topic of Choice: AI/Opioid Epidemic

https://chat.openai.com/share/3a56f9e1-8ecb-4bc5-8d04-4a0dc50b0c2a


    I decided to go back to earlier in our semester when we discussed AI. I have not been the biggest fan of the recent craze regarding AI and how it is being addressed at the University. I am still a bit confused about what UMich’s stance regarding AI is. This confusion makes sense, though, because there is uncertainty about how continued AI advancement will change our lives' functionality. Nobody is quite sure what healthcare will look like in the future. AI has the potential to drastically change many aspects of healthcare, including electronic records, at-home health monitoring, surgeries, and many more. Since I did not have a specific topic in mind for this blog post, I decided to utilize AI to help me out. 

    I had a lovely little conversation with ChatGPT. I’m hoping you can access the entire conversation in the attached link at the beginning of this post. I would first like to mention that my chatbot was very empathetic of the fact that I had an exam earlier in the day and now had to focus on this assignment as well. After I told the topic of this “paper”, I was given a broad number of issues in healthcare. I also asked for various topics of pharmacy and health care but ended up delving more into the opioid epidemic. 

    We discussed the opioid epidemic during one of our classes about the drug industry. Over the past 20-25 years, there has been a lot of focus on combating the damage inflicted by the crisis. Dispensing practices have drastically changed and prescription drug monitoring programs are now being utilized across the country. One of the main roles of the pharmacists is in patient education and counseling. Pharmacists can discuss safe medication storage, use, and disposal with their patients as well as the signs of overdose. As a healthcare provider, pharmacists can play a big part in reducing the stigma that is associated with opioid use. 

    During HSP’s Intro to Health Systems Pharmacy event in the Fall, I was able to hear from Dr. Jillian DiClemente. Dr. DiClemente works at Michigan Medicine and is a clinical pharmacy specialist in pain management. She spoke about the UMich PGY-2 in pain management and palliative care. It was never something I had considered previously, and I still don’t really think I would want to go into this route, but it was really interesting getting to speak with her about the program and field. After asking the bot a few questions, I found that the first PGY-2 in this area was established in the early 2000s. ChatGPT was unsure of how many of these programs are currently active in the United States but it did acknowledge that the growing number is a reflection of the need for specialized training for pharmacists in this area. 

    I asked a few questions about resources available to individuals seeking care for OUD. There were several types of resources listed by the bot but what I found compelling was this paragraph that came after those resources:

    “Taking the first step to seek care for opioid use disorder can be challenging, but it's a courageous and

     empowering decision that can lead to positive changes in your life. Remember that recovery is

     possible, and there are resources and support available to help you along the way. You are not alone,

     and there is hope for a brighter future.”

Again, I was surprised by the empathy that was trying to be expressed by AI. 

Lastly, I would like to leave you with the advice my chatbot provided to us as future healthcare professionals (in the context of OUD and treatment as a topic of interest)

1. Educate yourself

2. Develop empathy and compassion

3. Advocate for evidence-based care

4. Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams

5. Address stigma and discrimination

6. Promote harm reduction

7. Engage in self-care

Thanks for reading:)


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