Registration Options

Activity Dates: 04/18/2023 - 04/18/2026

AAPP 2023 registration is closed.

Session Time and Location

The live session is complete.

Target Audience

If you are a pharmacist, nurse practitioner, or other health care professional involved in the comprehensive medication management of individuals living with mental health and/or substance use disorders, we invite you to participate in this online course.

Session Summary

Treatment of opioid use disorder may include buprenorphine. A limitation of buprenorphine use is that patients must abstain from opioid use for some time prior to initiation therapy to avoid severe, precipitated withdrawal. There are some clinical situations where buprenorphine initiation is not successful. This can include prior unsuccessful initiations, use of illicit fentanyl, and transitioning from methadone. Buprenorphine micro-dosing (low dose) is an initiation strategy that can be utilized in these situations.

Published Research Related to this Session: 
  • Spreen LA, Dittmar EN, Quirk KC, Smith MA. Buprenorphine initiation strategies for opioid use disorder and pain management: A systematic review. Pharmacotherapy. 2022 May;42(5):411-427. doi: 10.1002/phar.2676. Epub 2022 Mar 25. PMID: 35302671; PMCID: PMC9310825.

Course Requirements

To receive ACPE credit for this session, you must:

  • Sign in (or create a FREE account).
  • Register for this course.
  • Review the full content of the activity and reflect upon its teachings.
  • Complete the post-test at the end of the activity no later than the closing activity date.
  • Complete the evaluation at the end of the activity.
  • If necessary, complete the post-test retest no later than the closing activity date.
  • Receive a passing grade (70%).
  • Provide the necessary details in your profile to ensure correct reporting by AAPP to CPE Monitor.

Upon successful completion, ACPE credit is reported within 24 hours to CPE Monitor although transcripts can be retrieved by participants online in their ACPE Transcript.

Faculty Information and Disclosures

Michael A. Smith, PharmD, FCCP, BCPS

View biographical information and disclosures

Learning Objectives

  1. Recall pharmacology of buprenorphine. 
  2. Discuss quality of evidence of buprenorphine for low dose initiation.
  3. Recognize clinical scenarios when buprenorphine low dose can be utilized.

Continuing Education Credit and Disclosures

Activity Dates: 04/18/2023 - 04/18/2026
ACPE Contact Hours: 1
ACPE Number: 0284-0000-23-036-H01-P (Knowledge)
Nursing Credit Reminder: Note that ACPE credit is accepted for certification renewal.

ACPEThe American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.

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