CME: Opioid dependence and opioid use disorder: best practices, barriers in care, and the role of long-acting injectable medication

Details

Opioid use disorder (OUD) affects millions of individuals globally and is best defined by the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) as a condition due to tolerance, manifestation of physical dependence, and loss of control leading to health hazards.The scale of the problem is staggering, and while the causes are manifold, it is fueled in part by widespread availability: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the distribution of prescription opioid analgesics rose over fivefold between 1997 and 2007.

By the end of the session the participant will be able to:

• Describe the epidemiology of OUD and dependence, and outline current and the significance of inappropriate selection and treatment of opioid therapy
• Identify long-acting treatment modalities for OUD and dependence, and apply them to patient cases using evidence-based medicine
• Identify challenges associated with the selection and implementation of drug regimens to the treatment of OUD and dependence, including risk factors for opioid overdose
• Develop strategies for recognizing and improving therapeutic adherence in patients treated for OUD and opioid dependence

Target Audience:

Healthcare professionals specializing in: addiction specialists, pain management specialists, primary care physicians, and psychiatrists; physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, and pharmacists who practice in pain management or substance abuse; and any other health professionals who encounter OUD in the clinical setting.