Xylazine-Associated Wounds and Tips on Wound Care

Xylazine-associated wounds have increased as a result of an unregulated drug supply. Caring for Xylazine-associated wounds may be done in the inpatient and outpatient settings. Understanding the nuances of caring for housed and unstably housed individuals with Xylazine-associated wounds is an essential aspect of healthcare. This webinar will provide a brief overview of Xylazine, the supplies needed to care for these unique wounds, and harm reduction approaches for unstably housed people who use drugs. This webinar is appropriate for anyone caring for people who use drugs. Learner Objectives Describe Xylazine-associated wound care treatment options for stable and unstably housed individuals. State three harm reduction education actions for individuals with Xylazine-associated wounds. Describe three ways to decrease Xylazine-associated wounds. Presenter Kimberly Dion, PhD, RN, CNE, CARN, FIAAN University of Massachusetts Amherst Elaine Marieb College of Nursing Kimberly is a Clinical Professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst Elaine Marieb College of Nursing. Her research program focuses on people with substance use disorders, a population she has worked with for 24 years. Her broad and sustained impact is concentrated on decreasing substance use disorder stigma and opioid overdoses and infusing harm reduction education into academic and community programs. In 2021, Dr. Dion received the American Nurses Association Massachusetts Excellence in Nursing Research Award. She is an active member of several local and national committees to decrease health inequities for people who use drugs. In addition to her full-time teaching position at the university, Dr. Dion works as a nurse in a syringe access program where she provides vaccines, wound care, harm reduction, and reproductive health education. Nursing CE This event is approved for Nursing CE with the California Board of Nursing.