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OUD

CE / CME

Module 6: Opioid Use Disorder

Physician Assistants/Physician Associates: 1.00 AAPA Category 1 CME credit

Nurses: 1.00 Nursing contact hour

ABIM MOC: maximum of 1.00 Medical Knowledge MOC point

Optometrists: 1.00 COPE CE credit 

ABP MOC: maximum of 1.00 MOC point

ABS MOC: maximum of 1.00 Continuous Certification credit

ABOHNS MOC: maximum of 1.00 Part II Self-Assessment Credit

ABPath MOC: maximum of 1.00 Lifelong Learning point

Dental Professionals: 1.00 ADA CERP credit

Physicians: maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

Released: May 31, 2023

Expiration: May 30, 2026

Timothy Atkinson
Timothy Atkinson, PharmD, BCPS, CPE
CME/CE Information

Activity

Progress
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Course Completed

After an Overdose or a Relapse

If patients overdose or relapse, it is extremely important that we, as providers, re-evaluate their care. What did we miss? Are the patients engaging in psychosocial treatment and counseling? Are they not taking the medications as prescribed? Is this because of cravings? Do we need to adjust their medications? Do we have realistic goals for the patients? Have they had adequate control of nonopioid therapies for pain, if pain has been identified as driving their opioid use? Have we been checking the state database to make sure that we know what they are getting from other providers, especially for dangerous combinations like benzodiazepines that may have contributed to an overdose? Do patients have naloxone?

All of the above is important to consider and reevaluate. We may also want to consider increasing the intensity of the treatment setting or the services that are provided to promote and encourage success.

OUD Risk Screening in Patients With Cancer?

OUD in patients with cancer is a topic that is very controversial.40-42 Patients with cancer are generally afforded whatever drugs they need to manage their pain without much question. 

However, when patients with a substance use disorder arrives for cancer treatment and they suddenly have an unlimited supply of opioids, it does not negate their problem with drug abuse. It can be very worrisome for our palliative care and oncology colleagues who work with those higher risk patients. Because 20% of patients with cancer may either be at risk of OUD or may have already developed an OUD, the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network now recommend routine screenings for drug abuse in patients with cancer. We do need to monitor, manage and support them as we do any patient with OUD.

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