Comorbid pain and opioid use disorder (OUD) remains a problem, with up to 9% of those receiving chronic opioid therapy for pain meeting criteria for moderate to severe OUD. Treatment strategies that address both pain and OUD need to be considered, and risks and benefits discussed in a patient-centric model to maximize patient outcomes. Despite the removal of the X-waiver requirement, there remains hesitation to manage OUD and concurrent chronic pain. It is important for pharmacists providing comprehensive medication management to those with pain and co-occurring OUD to maximize benefits and minimize risks when initiating pain medications and implement available risk mitigation strategies. Psychiatric and pain pharmacists should be able to recognize situations where there is need for acute pain management in those with OUD and be able to provide appropriate, evidence-based treatment. The goal of this presentation is to improve the comfort of treating these co-occurring illnesses. This program will explore risks of undertreated pain in the presence of OUD and creation of treatment strategies.
Post-session follow-up items:
- Literature citation mentioned during presentation: Aubry, L., & Carr, B. T. (2022). Overdose, opioid treatment admissions and prescription opioid pain reliever relationships: United States, 2010–2019. Frontiers in Pain Research, 3, 884674.
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.
Course Requirements
To receive ACPE credit for this session, you must:
- Register for this course.
- Review the full content of the activity and reflect upon its teachings.
- Complete the evaluation at the end of the activity.
- Provide the necessary details in your profile to ensure correct reporting by AAPP to CPE Monitor.
Faculty Information
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Learning Objectives
- Evaluate the risks of undertreated pain for patients with co-occurring opioid use disorder.
- Design a treatment plan to address co-occurring chronic pain and opioid use disorder.
- Choose treatments for acute pain in individuals receiving medication for opioid use disorder.
Continuing Education Credit and Disclosures
Activity Dates: 10/10/2024 - 10/10/2027
ACPE Contact Hours: 1.25
ACPE Number: 0284-0000-24-059-H08-P (Application)
Nursing Credit Reminder: Note that ACPE credit is accepted for ANCC Certification Renewal and AANPCB advanced practice provider content. For specific questions related to your organization's acceptance of ACPE continuing education units, please contact your organization directly.
The 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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Off-Label Use: This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA (see faculty information). The opinions expressed in the educational activity do not necessarily represent the views of AAPP and any educational partners. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.
Disclaimer: Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient’s conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.
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It is the policy of AAPP to ensure independence, balance, objectivity, scientific rigor, and integrity in continuing education activities. Those involved in the development of this continuing education activity have made all reasonable efforts to ensure that information contained herein is accurate in accordance with the latest available scientific knowledge at the time of accreditation of this continuing education activity. Information regarding drugs (e.g., their administration, dosages, contraindications, adverse reactions, interactions, special warnings, and precautions) and drug delivery systems is subject to change, however, and the reader is advised to check the manufacturer’s package insert for information concerning recommended dosage and potential problems or cautions prior to dispensing or administering the drug or using the drug delivery systems.
Fair balance is achieved through ongoing and thorough review of all materials produced by faculty, and all educational and advertising materials produced by supporting organizations, prior to educational offerings. Approval of credit for this continuing education activity does not imply endorsement by AAPP for any product or manufacturer identified.