Chronic pain is a common condition for which healthcare providers often prescribe controlled substances, such as opioids. Prescription opioids can alleviate pain in certain patients, but the risk of misuse, abuse, and overdose means providers need to evaluate the risks and benefits for each patient. This course will educate healthcare providers on the role of prescription opioids along with other therapies for chronic pain, using recommendations from current national guidelines.

The goal of this course is to educate healthcare providers on methods for the safe and responsible use of controlled substances for the management of chronic pain.

The increased emphasis on pain management to improve functionality and quality of life has contributed to significantly more opioid prescriptions. Their availability led to widespread misuse across the nation. This course will address regulation and misuse of opioids and evidence-based management of chronic pain.

The current opioid use epidemic has had devastating consequences for those impacted by it. Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) is an effective, yet underused, approach to the treatment of opioid use disorder. By taking this course, you will have information that you can share with your clients and their family members about what MOUD is, its risks and benefits, and the types of medications used in MOUD. The goal of this course is to provide addictions, behavioral health counseling, marriage and family therapy, nursing, psychology, and social work professionals in health and human services settings with an overview of what MOUD is, how it can help individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD), and the medications used by providers that treat OUD.

The Opioid Epidemic is a major public health crisis, leading to widespread addiction, overdose, and death. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the epidemic, covering the classification and pharmacology of opioids, the mechanisms of addiction, and the societal impact of opioid misuse.

Participants will learn how opioids interact with the nervous system, the progression from prescription misuse to illicit drug use, and key public health interventions aimed at mitigating the crisis. The course will also explore clinical management strategies, including opioid overdose response, withdrawal treatment, and harm reduction approaches like naloxone distribution and treatment. 

Americans are using opioids at an alarming rate, whether through prescriptions or illegal means. Parallel to this problem is the use of opioids during pregnancy.

The goal for this course is to present RNs, PAs, physicians, and entry-level drug and alcohol counselors in inpatient or outpatient settings with best practices for identifying and managing pregnant women who are using opioids.