Back Back
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
1 2 3
Course Completed

OUD Treatment Barriers

There are some common barriers to OUD treatment.20-22

Stigma is a very important barrier to the treatment of many diseases, including OUD.

Insufficient training of healthcare professionals and/or not having enough addiction specialists creates a barrier.

Lack of standard of care related to addiction treatment impedes quality OUD treatment; lack of resources to meet these standards is likewise an impediment.

There are regulatory hurdles. State and federal laws may be very different (depending on the state) and may even restrict the ability to share data.

From a financial perspective, getting coverage for OUD treatment may be difficult. There are disparities among those who receive Medicaid, those who are incarcerated, and those who have private insurance coverage for OUD treatment. Medications may be covered but not psychosocial interventions may not be covered, including the care coordination and case management that is necessary for long‑term recovery and improvement.

Beliefs About OUD Treatment

There are many myths that drive stigma about OUD treatment and we must be careful about our language so that we are not perpetuating that stigma.20,21 People often feel judged when they are engaging in treatment for any substance use disorder. There is the perception by many that substance use disorder relates to a moral failing and that if patients exhibited better self‑control, they could overcome the addiction. The reality is that OUD is a chronic, relapsing disease. There can be improvement but we have to expect, at times, that there may be setbacks and that these do not equate to failure.

We must also emphasize that when we prescribe medications for OUD, we are not just trading one drug for another. OUD treatment is actually life‑saving therapy. Pharmaceutical treatment of OUD has now become standard of care and recovery is easier with treatment for many.

For those who refuse treatment, we must be careful not to stigmatize and discourage people by our language. Perhaps this particular patient is not ready yet.

Finally, removal of the X waiver has improved access to care because it has increased the number of providers who can prescribe OUD treatment.

Which of the following is true about OUD/opioid abuse?

BACK | NEXT